Re: ATP

[phaedrus@ultra.net.au (Darryl Georgee)]

mcfergus@my-dejanews.com wrote:

>In article <921879604.305096@terra.ultra.net.au>,
>  phaedrus@ultra.net.au (Darryl Georgee) wrote:
>>
>>  Right on Matt, but as with many things the theory is good
>>  but in practice it has been/is a nightmare for the people on
>>  the ground who have been inflicted with it. As prev mentioned.
>>  Westec are up to ver 16 on the software. It still has a long way
>>  to go. The difference between driving a train with and without ATP
>> is like chalk and cheese.
>> But then I'm only a driver so wot would I know :-)
>> .

>Matt Smith has given an excellent description of the system, but I would be
>interested if you could elaborate on *why* you don't like driving with it. In
>his Modern Railways column, Alan Williams once complained about the ride
>quality of the Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel as compared to a
>conventional UK mainline train. His complaint was that the train seemed to
>constantly accelerate and decelerate quite rapidly, as if the driver were
>always having to adjust the speed to match the target speed on the cab
>signalling system, as opposed to a driver on a line equipped with
>conventional multiple aspect colour light signalling who could use a
>combination of route knowledge and caution aspects to smooth out the ride
>somewhat. Is this the sort of problem you are encountering?

>Do you drive freight trains? If so, I would imagine that the effects of such
>a system would be potentially more difficult to deal with than if you were
>driving modern high performance passenger stock. Please let us know :-)


>Rob

  Thats about it, as prev mentioed we're up to Ver 16 of the ATP
 software BUT where without ATP a driver may wait till he's say 800
 metres before a slow curve or such to apply the train brake with the
 idiot box (ATP)  it will start beeping and flashing at you out at
about 1.5 KLMs' (dependent on train weight, speed etc) So IMHO trains
with ATP would take longer to go from A to B than those without it.
This assumes there are no faults which there are certailnly plenty of.
 I was looking at 3 lovely green signals the other week all in a row
however the idiot box saw one as red and put the brakes on including
the engine brake which is a sure fire way of getting flat wheels.
Also if you have a light train with a 2800 class DEL its possible for
the idiot box to register wheel slip, with once again the brakes
coming on. We then have to trip a CB and start the system up which
takes up tp 5 minutes. All these thingalso happen on passenger trains
too. I 'm waiting to see how the Great Southern Express is affected
:-)
	

>Sydney (Australia)

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