Not specifically Birmingham, but probably of interest to those interested in rialways. From the latest Science museum journal
http://dx.doi.org/10.15180/211603
http://dx.doi.org/10.15180/211603
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How information was handled on the Railways
- Thread starter mikejee
- Start date
"The use of electricity eventually led to three key developments: the block instrument (which was derived from the telegraph and used to ensure only one train was in one ‘block’ of track at any one time); the track circuit (a low voltage form of train detection) and the relay (a simple, robust switch that ensured the correct operation of railway signals). All three meant that some Signal and Telegraph (traditionally known as S&T) staff were in the vanguard of the developing world of electronics, even if all most people saw was a railway dominated by steam traction into the 1960s."
A rather bold claim I think. The block instrument hardly changed throughout its lifetime, ditto the track circuit until electric traction complicated matters. The 'relay', so named because it 'relayed' telegraph signals, became vital for automatic telephony and was developed by telephone engineers to be cheaper, more versatile and more reliable. With the introduction of electronics into the control of telephone switches the telephone relay was miniaturised to about a cubic inch in size. By contrast the railway 'miniature' relay was massive, probably about 150 times the size. Railway signalling engineering is incredibly conservative and that was reflected in the design of its relays, mechanically large with big distances between connections and using techniques like carbon/silver contact pairs so that there was no possibility of welding. 'Electronics' is generally considered to mean the use of 'active' devices, such as valves and transistors. If telephone engineers were reluctant to introduce these devices, (concerns over reliability), signalling engineers were positively hostile, (concerns over fail-safety)!
Railway Relay
Telephone Relay
A rather bold claim I think. The block instrument hardly changed throughout its lifetime, ditto the track circuit until electric traction complicated matters. The 'relay', so named because it 'relayed' telegraph signals, became vital for automatic telephony and was developed by telephone engineers to be cheaper, more versatile and more reliable. With the introduction of electronics into the control of telephone switches the telephone relay was miniaturised to about a cubic inch in size. By contrast the railway 'miniature' relay was massive, probably about 150 times the size. Railway signalling engineering is incredibly conservative and that was reflected in the design of its relays, mechanically large with big distances between connections and using techniques like carbon/silver contact pairs so that there was no possibility of welding. 'Electronics' is generally considered to mean the use of 'active' devices, such as valves and transistors. If telephone engineers were reluctant to introduce these devices, (concerns over reliability), signalling engineers were positively hostile, (concerns over fail-safety)!
Railway Relay
Telephone Relay
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Heartland
master brummie
Information distribution improved in the 1970;s and 1980;s. For those travelling by train the Travel Centres gained in that respect with computerised CRS for seat and sleeper reservations. The Continental Office used computers for car ferry booking and they also had a telex and reservations for couchettes and seats on foreign trains only a phone call away. The railway phone network reached most points by that time and later there was micromail an early form of email, but specific for BR
Heartland
master brummie
Yes the railways did change with time. With signalling it was the practice at night to use a red light for danger, but early railways often used white to progress. Green was for caution.
In our modern world the Power Signal Boxes have been replaced by the signalling centres. For Birmingham it is at Saltley, such is the use of the digital world, our colour light signal are slowly being replaced by the LED type, but there are some places not far away from here where the semaphore signal is still in use.
In our modern world the Power Signal Boxes have been replaced by the signalling centres. For Birmingham it is at Saltley, such is the use of the digital world, our colour light signal are slowly being replaced by the LED type, but there are some places not far away from here where the semaphore signal is still in use.