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

[cmgord@ecr.mu.oz.au (Christopher_Martin GORDON)]

: 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.

What?
The TNT machines are still used between signal boxes, with some expections
like Ringwood - Upper Ferntree Gully.

Finge boxes to Metrol use the VT100 machines. (ie Newport, Sunshine, 
Kensington, Upfield, Heidelberg, Burnley, and Caulfield)

The TNT only transmits the train number (and track, date and time)
the record of the trains (ie Motor Car numbers) is done on paper and
the fleet controllers will ring up to find out what is where.  That
is what this POTS is replacing, first is to make the fleet controllers
know where all their trains are with out ringing up and someone looking
in the sidings.  Second is for the transmittion of the train numbers, 
ie to replace the TNT, Bell Codes and VT100 machines.  

TNT = Train Number Transmitter, it looks like type writer and has a 
keyboard to enter the track number and TR number for a train, a little
one line screen to show the trains coming from other signal boxes and 
it is all printed onto a roll of paper which is keeped and used if any
problems come up.  (ie this train left here then, and this train did
this etc...)



--

Chris Gordon
http://www.ecr.mu.oz.au/~cmgord

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