Re: Minor Magical Mystery Tours on CityRail.

["MattyQ" <matticue@corplink.com.au>]

The practice in QR is to provide an illuminated 'X' light on certain
signals. If the signal is cleared for a non-wired route, the 'X' (non-wired
route) indicator lights up. A driver of an electric train, on seeing this
'X' will (hopefully) stop his train.

The QR train numbering system identifies each train as being electric or
non-electric (amongst other things). In the Brisbane Suburban area, the
Train Describer system on the UTC software (signalling control) will not
allow a Train Controller to set a route down an unwired road if the TD No.
is that of an electric train.

This system was also in place when the NX panel was in use at Mayne. As a
result, the only instances of electric trains going down an unwired road is
in yards and areas where routing discrimination is not in use (ie: signal
cabins).

Regards

Matt Smith
Brisbane, Queensland
Reply to matticue@hotmail.com

You can't slam a revolving door.

Paul Hogan wrote in message ...
>
>> >--
>> A mate used to be signalman at Spotswood years ago. One evening sent on
an
>> Up goods towards Melb but forgot to bell the next box that it was an
>> electric loco. Yep, the panto ran out of catenary.....
>>
>> D'oh!!!!!
>
>Which is why the then new NSW 85 class electrics were fitted with
>an illuminated "E" on the front, so highly trained signal box staff
>wouldn't mistake an electric "box" for a diesel one, and sent it
>down an unwired road!  (With their yellow front, I guess they
>*could* have been mistaken for an 80 or 422 on a dark night).
>
>I can only assume that this modification was carried out after
>one or two embarrassing incidents had already occurred.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Paul Hogan
>>
>>
>