In our technological age, time dependent microprocessors are fitted to loco
and railcar engine management systems, signalling and communication
equipment, ticketing machines and station barriers, power supply, probably
even vending machines.
On the stroke of midnight on 31 December 1999 what is likely to happen? If
you travel on a diesel hauled train, what is the guarantee that the engine
won't shut down and you'll be stuck in the middle of nowhere. Or if you're
on an electric train that the power cuts off? You bought your ticket
before getting on the train, but the barriers refuse to budge, thinking
your ticket is over 100 years old. All the signals go red (hopefully
they'll do this rather all go green). and everything grinds to a stop. Am
I being a pessimist or realist - are our railway systems run on chance or
has some-one done a proper study of these things?
The clock ticks on - O for the simple days of wind-up clocks, Edmondson
tickets, rotary dial telephones, steam trains etc, we didn't have these
problems when we entered the twentieth century, when people and not
machines were in charge.
David Bennetts
Canberra