Re: [Melb] POTS (Position of Trains System)

[Gareth Lumsden at Minyos <s9763278@minyos.its.rmit.edu.au>]

On Sun, 14 Nov 1999, Richard wrote:

> So these guys never heard of GPS...no silly parts on the tracks to worry
> about or get vandalised...existing off the shelf technology.....ah thats
> it...cant ever use anything simple or existing in Victoria ...can we

Dear Richard,
Before you can criticise, I think you better do a little bit of research -
Melbourne sparks have been using GPS since the TNT system was
discontinued.  For some reason, the GPS system did/is not work/ing 
properly in Melbourne, trains were constantly being lost.  Just ask 
"Railvic", who works at a Melb spark station, and must record all car
numbers as they go into the yard for stabling.
I think you better get your finger off the full stop key and do some
research before you start raving.

> For the short time anything is in the loop some other form of plug in
> technology...something simple could be used...its a bit harder to 
> vandalise in the loop.

I'm not sure if it's me, but I can't understand what you are saying here.
No location systems are really need to be used in Melbourne's loop, trains
go in and come out the other end - simple.  And yes, "short term" tactics
are being used to keep track of trains, manually writing them down.

> WHo comes up with these lame brain systems??

What?  There are always reasons for the railway's seemingly stupid things.
These reasons are simply not considered by the regular traveller or
railfan.

Gareth.

> Christopher_Martin GORDON wrote:
> > 
> > Melbourne is getting a new system for knowing where the trains are and
> > what they are.  Each trailer carrage will be fitted with a transponder
> > and then on sleepers through out the suburban system have things to
> > pick this up, then the information send will be T.R. number, train
> > consist, etc..
> > 
> > This is to replace the existing system of TNT (Train Number Transmitters)
> > machines.  Noticed on the electrail trip yeaterday were these things on the
> > sleepers at both ends of the station at both Ferntree Gully and Upwey.
> > 
> > I think this is the first section to get the POTS things, since the current
> > set up between Ringwood and Upper Ferntree Gully uses bell codes and not
> > the TNT machines, like most sections do (Finge Boxes to Metrol use the VT100
> > machines)
> > 
> > For a photo of one of these yellow thingy on the sleepers have a look at:
> > http://www.ecr.mu.oz.au/~cmgord/trains/current/pots.jpg
> > 
> > --
> > 
> > Chris Gordon
> > http://www.ecr.mu.oz.au/~cmgord
> > 
> > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> > e-mail: cmgord@ecr.mu.oz.au
> > e-mail: cmgord@alphalink.com.au (pictures)
> > ICQ: 32989450
> > Mobile Phone: Number on Request.
> 
>