[PRCo] Re: Restored Signals

[John Swindler]

Actually, Fred, just throwing out a possible third option using modern 
technology.  There would be cost considerations, "purist" considerations 
because cars not originally equipped with GPS, and is it worth the 
hassle/effort considerations.  The other two methods are radio contact with 
the dispatcher and a functioning 70-year old signal system.

As for the pointy headed bureaucrats, feds  have now decreed that it is 
unsafe to operate restored car 85 on the Charlotte light rail line trackage. 
  Never mind that the same department finds nothing objectionable with 
allowing 40 ton tractor trailers to mix it up with motorcycles and sports 
cars, without any temporal separation, buffer strength standards, nor speed 
controls.

Pogo was right:  "we have met the enemy, and they is us!"

John

p.s.  yes, GPS has been used to find stolen buses and tractor trailers.  
Also keeps a record of drivers diverting from route.  And used to assess 
additional charges for rental cars being taken out of state.  Scranton 
already uses GPS to track their buses.



>From: Fred Schneider <fwschneider at comcast.net>
>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>Subject: [PRCo] Re: Restored Signals
>Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 20:42:43 -0400
>
>John's would and could be equipped probably has a lot to do with what
>the pointed headed bureaucrats in the FRA will allow.   What makes
>sense, what will work, and what they will permit might all be
>different animals.   In otherwords GPS might be deemed good enough to
>find a bus that someone steals or the trailer load of stolen
>merchandise and quite good enough to navigate a Boeing 747 across the
>Atlantic Ocean to within 10 feet of the gate at Heathrow Airport in
>London but not good enough to keep two trolleys from colliding
>because we say it might not be good enough.    Understand guys, I DID
>NOT SAY ANYONE SAID IT ... I JUST SUGGESTED THEY MIGHT HAVE SAID IT.
>
>On May 9, 2007, at 8:29 PM, Herb Brannon wrote:
>
> > All the light and heavy rail cars/trains belonging to RTA have the
> > gps tracking, as well as all the buses. However, all rail cars must
> > still use the signaling systems. Regular track circuit block
> > signals on the light rail lines and a type of cab control on the
> > heavy rail and joint usage (light and heavy) trackage. Radio
> > communication is used when single tracking must be utilized do to
> > track construction.
> > John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > And the day may not be too far off when the cars could (not would) be
> > equipped with GPS tracking, and then let a satellite and computers
> > control
> > safety on single track.
> >
> > There's good line of sight on stretch past County Home siding, but
> > there is
> > a somewhat blind "S" curve between Yanovich and Fair grounds. And the
> > Nachod signals are not totally reliable.
> >
> > John
> >
> >
> >> From: Fred Schneider
> >> Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> >> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> >> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Restored Signals
> >> Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 15:44:49 -0400
> >>
> >> I'm chuckling.
> >>
> >> On May 9, 2007, at 1:50 PM, John Swindler wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Did you forget about the Directional Indicators, Fred??? See
> >>> Transportation
> >>> Department Order 1214A.
> >>>
> >>> And in the end, might not the signal system serve as a backup to
> >>> make sure
> >>> the dispatcher didn't lose track of a car. PTM is not Pittsburgh
> >>> Railways.
> >>>
> >>> John, trainee
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> From: Fred Schneider
> >>>> Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> >>>> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> >>>> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Restored Signals
> >>>> Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 11:53:50 -0400
> >>>>
> >>>> Let me ask you what happens if two cars from opposite ends of the
> >>>> block try to occupy the single track at the same time? What signal
> >>>> aspect do they get? And how do they resolve it? If you don't tell
> >>>> the crews, they don't know what to do. It isn't simply red and
> >>>> green.
> >>>>
> >>>> What is a spacing signal? What is an absolute block signal? Etc.
> >>>> Etc. Etc.
> >>>>
> >>>> Of course, we won't have spacing signals because we have no double
> >>>> track.
> >>>>
> >>>> On May 9, 2007, at 11:37 AM, Ken & Tracie wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> Only a few of us who knew Pittsburgh
> >>>>>> Railways would understand how to use them anyway. He'll have to
> >>>>>> create a new rule book before County Home siding can be placed in
> >>>>>> service.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I'm confused by the above statement. Please elaborate. In my
> >>>>> admitted
> >>>>> ignorance, I would figure these signals would be used the same way
> >>>>> as they
> >>>>> would on any other property.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> BTW, Fred...Tracie would like to meet up with both you and your
> >>>>> wife in Utah
> >>>>> this coming summer. Please e-mail me off list.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> K.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>> _________________________________________________________________
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Herb Brannon
> >
> >
>
>
>

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