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The Exeter West Advanced Add-on Pack

The Standard version of Exeter West whilst adequately simulating the key characteristics of operating the box, does not attempt to simulate some of the more complex aspects.  This compromise enables the less experienced to keep traffic moving whilst still maintaining a good level of realism. For customers who have purchased full licenses for the Standard version and have acquired a good standard of competency in box operation, we now offer an Add-on Pack which offers a considerable amount of additional functionality to the extent that virtually all aspects of operation are now simulated. 

Please be aware that this additional functionality considerably adds to the difficulty of working the box - not only because of the increased complexity of the traffic patterns it enables, but because it is also much easier to "get in a mess" if a mistake is made.  For this reason we only recommend that competent and confident users purchase this option

IMPORTANT -

Please note:-  The Advanced Add-on pack requires an existing installation of the Exeter West Simulation therefore it can only be run on a machine which already has a licensed version of the Standard Exeter West programme registered on it. For this reason, and because it is intended for experienced users only, no "Demo" version is available.

The Advanced Add-on Pack License features:-

The Advanced version of Exeter West will install alongside your existing Standard version installation and is accessed via a different desktop icon. Therefore, you will retain full access to all existing timetables, saved scenarios etc by running the Standard version. The Software which runs the Advanced Version is exactly the same as that which is used in the Preserved Exeter West box at Crewe including the timetables in use there.  All future updates to that software, including new or amended timetables, will be made available to purchasers who will be notified by email whenever such updates are available for download.

Installation.

After purchasing a license, users will be sent a link from which the Add-on Pack software can be downloaded along with the Registration Code needed to register it on the user's machine. Once it has been installed, the programme, when run, will check for a valid exsiting registration of the standard version (in the absence of this the programme will not run) and ask the user to enter the Registration code.  Once this has successfully been completed, the user has the option to run either the Advanced, or the Standard versions at will via two separate icons on the desktop or the Programmes List.  This means that users can continue to use the exsting timetables or any saved scenarios by running the standard version.  Please note that timetables and scenarios from one version of the programme are not compatible with the other version.



The Advanced Functionality highlights:-

Acceptance of Up trains and Regulation of Up Departures at Exeter Middle:-

In the standard version, Exeter Middle uses a simplified approach to Accepting Up Trains from West - for example,  Middle will accept a Train from West even though a Departure is about to foul the Clearing Point. Also, if a train has been accepted from West, Middle will allow a subsequent departure to foul the Clearing Point.
 In the Advanced version however, all aspects of the Regulations are applied. Hence, Middle will refuse trains offered by West when a departure is timetabled. Equally, should West offer a Train "too soon", Middle, Middle will hold a departure pending its arrival - with the possibility of unnecessarily delaying traffic.


Regulation of Wrong Line working on the Down Lines to Exeter Middle:-

In the standard version, Exeter Middle uses a simplified approach to regulating Wrong Line or Blocking Back movements.  In the Advanced version however, all aspects are properly managed.  In consequence, West should pay careful regard to the Timetable when judging when to send wrong line movements. Also, the "Train or Vehicles at a stand" bell code (3-3-4) must be used after a Block Back before Middle will allow a Down Train to approach from East box. Lack of forethought therefore risks unnecessarily delaying traffic.


Full operation of Calling-on Arms and Permissive working of Up Trains:-

All Calling on arms are fully operational. Hence, in the Down direction, two trains or engines can be run up to Signal 122 and then separately signalled to (say) the Shed and the Goods siding.  This is great boon at busy times. In the Up Direction, Middle will accept trains permissively into occupied sections - for example allowing an engine to wait behind a departure to either follow it through the section or be withdrawn Westwards.  In the case of Passenger trains, Middle will accept these permissively, provided the train already in section will have cleared the platform before the arrival.


Additional Timetabled movements:-

Additional functionality now allows the full range of movements timetables on the real thing to be simulated. These include:-



Timetables:-

A full 24 hour timetable, including over 400 trains, is included. This timetable, created by Roger Gilroy, is fully authentic, representing the known weekday service of the early 'sixties based on extensive research by the Exeter West Group. It includes some very intensive operational spells throughout the day and fully exploits all the additional functionality provided in the Advanced version. 

It is the intention to develop additional timetables covering (for example) the Summer Saturday operations, and purchasers will be notified when these become available for installation.





FordThe advanced Version includes an enhanced representation of the layout of the blockshelf as it existed around 1960



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Difficulty Rating:- 9.5 out of 10

Purchase Price:- £30.50

 

Summary of additional Features:


Purchase

 

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