The Signalling Desks are the equipment which Signallers use to control train traffic around the the Stepford County Railway network in a Rail Operations Centre or Signal Box. Each signalling desk covers a certain part of the network, known as a signal zone. Signallers can access train information, monitor actual traffic condition on the line using cameras, and control the railway signals within the signal zone on the screens and GUIs of the signalling desk.
History[]
Signalling desks have been present since almost the start of SCR. Before Version 1.0, each Signaller had all the buttons to change the signals in front of them with a camera for each signal available. However, as the buttons were physical ones, and the signalling system was less advanced at that time, it was hard to signal at that time.
This changed with the release of The Big Update and signalling desks were changed to have a line diagram in the style of an Integrated Electronic Control Centre, or IECC, where each individual signal's status could be checked and if the signal was "manual", the signal aspect could be changed. Signal desks were divided into small areas, with physical buttons being replaced with GUIs, making signalling more easier and efficient.
The next major update came with Version 1.7, where the desks were reallocated so that the control areas were larger. The style remained similar to that of an IECC however, the UI to control and manage trains made the workflow more organised for Signallers.
Signalling Desks Distribution[]
Version 1.10[]
Distribution of signalling zones, overlaid on the Network Map (click to zoom)
After the release of Version 1.10, a new desk was added.
Zones[]
- Zone A - Stepford Zone, including the Willowfield and Whitefield Branches, excluding St Helens Bridge
- Zone B - St Helens Bridge to Coxly and Beaulieu Park
- Zone C - Stepford Airport Zone including Benton Bridge and Airport Parkway Siding, including Waterline's Airport West station and Farleigh TMD (Road 11 & 17)
- Zone D - Morganstown to Leighton West including Airport Parkway Depot
- Zone E - Edgemead to Llyn-by-the-Sea
- Zone F - Benton Area excluding Benton Bridge and the Waterline Network excluding Airport West to Esterfield and Morganstown
- Zone G - James Street to Esterfield including Farleigh TMD (Road 2)
Locations[]
The desks were also moved to different areas, being:
- Zones A/D/G - Stepford ROC
- Zone B - Beaulieu Park Signal Box
- Zone C - Airport Signalling Centre
- Zone E - Llyn ROC
- Zone F - Benton Signal Box
Version 1.7 - Version 1.9.7[]
Illustration of the 1.9 Signalling Zones distribution on the Network Map (click to zoom)
After the release of Version 1.7, the desks were reallocated into different, larger areas:
Zones[]
- Zone A - Stepford Zone, including the Willowfield and Whitefield Branches, excluding St Helens Bridge
- Zone B - St Helens Bridge to Coxly and Beaulieu Park
- Zone C - Stepford Airport Zone including Benton Bridge and Airport Parkway Siding, excluding Waterline's Airport West station
- Zone D - Morganstown to Leighton West including Airport Parkway Depot[Note 1]
- Zone E - Edgemead to Llyn-by-the-Sea[Note 1]
- Zone F - Benton Area excluding Benton Bridge and the Waterline Network excluding Morganstown
Locations[]
The desks were also moved to different areas, being:
- Zones A/C/D - Stepford ROC
- Zone B - Beaulieu Park Signal Box
- Zone E - Llyn ROC[Note 2]
- Zone F - Benton Signal Box
Version 1.0 - 1.6.5[]
Illustration of the signalling zones distribution on the Network Map (click to zoom)
Zones[Note 3][Note 4][]
- 1A - Whitefield to Stepford High Street
- 1B - Waterline to Newry Harbour and West Benton
- 1D - Cambridge Street Parkway to Connolly and Airport West
- 1E - James Street and Stepford Airport Parkway to Stepford Airport Central and Airport Terminals
- 2A - Stepford Victoria to St Helens Bridge and Beechley Sidings
- 2B - Angel Pass to Coxly
- 2C - Benton
- 2D - Benton junction to Hampton Hargate including Benton TMD, Port Benton approach, and Stepford Airport Parkway TMD & Siding
- 2E - Water Newton to Edgemead including the Fast Lines
- 2F - Faymere to Llyn-by-the-Sea
- 3B - New Harrow to Berrily
- 3C - East Berrily to Morganstown including Port Benton to Greenslade
Locations[]
- pre 1.0.0 - Coxly Rail Operations Centre
- Version 1.0.0 - Version 1.0.22 - Benton Rail Operations Centre
- Version 1.1.0 - Version 1.4.3 - Stepford East Rail Operations Centre
- Version 1.4.4 - Version 1.6.5 - Stepford Rail Operations Centre
Trivia[]
- The Benton Signal Box, Airport Signalling Centre and Stepford Rail Operations Centre are the only signalling centres that have a Supervisor Desk.
- Currently, Zone G is the smallest signalling zone with only four stations.
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Prior to V1.8, Edgemead was located inside Zone D. After the aforementioned update, it was reallocated to Zone E, and the new station Leighton West took its place in Zone D.
- ↑ Prior to V1.7.2, Zone E Signalling Desk was located in Starryloch Signal Box.
- ↑ Signalling zones 1C and 3A did not exist, since there were no tracks at their position.
- ↑ Between V1.6.0 and V1.6.5, the whole Willowfield branch except Beechley Sidings could not be signalled manually due to technical limitations of the old signalling system.