The Timetable

The branch loco has been a 517 and then a 48xx/14xx. The branch is operated using a staff and ticket system.

5:15am:

Early turn fireman books on, fires up and moves loco from shed to water and coal up. He then cleans the shed pit of ash.

6:00am

Early turn driver books on and oils up, before moving to platform where the first auto coach is stabled.

8:07am

First auto to the junction mainly with pupils to the Grammar School. (staff)

8:47am

Return of auto. After passengers have left uses the engine release crossover to move to couple up to the second auto trailer which is kept in the road past the cattle docks as the next trip is usually crowded people going to market at the junction. (In this universe it??™s always market day at the junction). To get back to the platform it has to go to the end of the run round loop and set back. (staff)

9:07am

Auto with two coaches departs for junction. (staff)

10:55am

Auto returns from junction and drops second auto coach. (staff)

11:10am

Auto departs for Junction (staff)

1:07pm

Auto returns from junction and moves complete over the engine release crossover to the shed siding so that goods can use station to sort. (ticket)

1:15pm

First crew book off and second crew book on. Auto loco coaled and watered

1:45pm

Daily goods arrives from junction, runs round and clears engine release crossover. Starts sorting yard (staff)

1:55pm

Auto moves back over engine release crossover to platform

2:00pm

Auto departs for junction (ticket)

2:00pm

When auto has cleared goods loco continues sorting yard

2:35pm

Goods departs (staff)

3:04 pm

Auto returns from junction. After passengers have left uses the engine release crossover to move to couple up to the second auto trailer (staff)

4:00pm

Auto departs for junction (staff)

4:52pm

Auto returns from junction with schoolchildren and market shoppers. Drops second auto coach. (staff)

5:33pm

Auto departs for junction (staff)

6:59pm

Auto returns from junction. (staff)

7:25pm

Auto departs for junction (staff)

9:07pm

Auto returns from junction. (staff)

9:10pm

When all passengers have left, the engine uncouples from the auto coach and runs over the engine release crosser to the shed road, fill the boiler, drop the fire and move the engine into the shed. They then book off.

Cattle Market

A cattle market is held four times a year, at Lady Day, Whit, Michaelmas and Martinmas, or the nearest Thursday following. The dates are 25^th March, 15^th May (usually), 29^th September and 11th November. For these occasions large number of cattle trucks are in motion and extra trains have to be fitted in around the normal timetable. Extra locos are employed to move the extra traffic. For these days the second auto coach is kept coupled to the branch auto except for the lunchtime coal an water handover. The engine release area is not large enough t accommodate two auto coaches and an 0-4-2 tank, so extra ingenuity is employed. Cattle specials often run to 9pm or 10pm