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Post by signalfailure on Sept 13, 2007 20:58:50 GMT
Hi guys
Not sure what road this is on but i have seen this a few times on the underground (usually in sidings)
Right here goes.....
I usually see these long black or yellow poles that stand about 2 foot away from the train when the train is stabled in the sidings. I think they are some sort of sensor? completely puzzles me as to what this would be used for.
Many thanks in advance.
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towerman
My status is now now widower
Posts: 2,886
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Post by towerman on Sept 13, 2007 21:42:11 GMT
Train ready plungers?
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Post by signalfailure on Sept 13, 2007 21:49:19 GMT
Ah i think ive seen them in the wembley sidings, theres a little display thing on there, does that tell the operator what route the signalman has set? for him? I,E Aldgate, BakerStreet?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2007 7:01:48 GMT
Colloquially known by staff as Donkey's Di*ks... they are indeed train ready in sidings/depot plungers.
Areas which have computer based signalling usually have them, in particular Wembley Park Sidings and Farringdon Sidings.
Basically, in the computers timetable it knows a train starts from a particular sidings although it doesn't know which road. This is owing to train maintence, the depot will allocate different units to different running (set) numbers in order for them to stable in different places.
The light box will display a train's running number, when the train operator is ready he will "plunge" indicating to the computer what road he is on, when it is the correct departure time the computer will clear the shunt and the T/Op goes off on his merry way.
I believe there are some in Neasden Depot although no light box, this just indicates to the Train Movements Room that a train is ready to depart.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2007 7:17:35 GMT
ricky doesn't have plungers
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Post by citysig on Sept 14, 2007 13:48:37 GMT
The light box will display a train's running number, when the train operator is ready he will "plunge" indicating to the computer what road he is on, when it is the correct departure time the computer will clear the shunt and the T/Op goes off on his merry way. I believe there are some in Neasden Depot although no light box, this just indicates to the Train Movements Room that a train is ready to depart. Just to polish the first bit slightly, the number is not actually displayed until around half a minute before booked "siding" departure time. Plunging before the number is displayed will do nothing. Plunging for the wrong number means you will still get the route, but your train will be recognised incorrectly by the computer. Siding departure times can vary depending on the location of the sidings in relation to the platform. For example at Farringdon, the time is based on the platform time minus 30 seconds. Wembley Park is slightly longer. We have the plungers located at Stanmore, Wembley Park and Farringdon sidings. Farringdon has always caused problems for some reason. The Met and Jub drivers have used the plungers without problem for years. However the H&C drivers still appear to be under the illusion that if they plunge at any time once they are on the front, the computer will route them. Numerous notices were sent out but the message still fails to get through. Just this morning I asked a driver if he was ready to leave the sidings, and the reply went along the lines of: "Yeh, I plunged ages ago." |
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