[PRCo] Re: The "Light Rail ex-1600 1700s"

[Jim Holland]

There is another side to all this  --  I was having trouble with a fare 
box which I reported on pullin    ----    I was asked What Error Message 
is the box giving?       None,  I replied.       Then we don't know what 
to do I was told!!       Guess something can't be repaired unless the 
broken item can tell them what is wrong!!!!!
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Jim___Holland
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TEP wrote:

> Not so Boris. When I plug my laptop into a car I get an extensive 
> diagnosis and most faults are shown immediately. Of course some items 
> such as running gear and current collectors still require visual 
> inspection with the help of line-side gauges and sound measurement -- 
> that tell you if a truck is making abnormal noises or the pantograph 
> is out-of-alignment.
>
> I have no sympathy (except for impoverished third world operators) for 
> parts shortage. The computerized maintenance and parts records for the 
> last decade will show exactly what parts -- whether plug-and-play 
> line-replaceable units or otherwise -- are likely needed over the next 
> few months. This allows us, on the better systems, to work with 8-10% 
> spare cars versus the 12-15% that was normal at the start of my career 
> (well 20% for Muni and a few other US light rail properties!). This is 
> the difference of several $2-4 million cars sitting idle -- a lot more 
> expensive that having an adequate parts stock.
>
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> Tom Parkinson Vancouver BC
> 604 733-5430 fax 733-5437
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