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Last Service Notices

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Last Service Notices 25/07/2021 at 16:52 #140744
Ray
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211 posts
I am enjoying this simulation a lot. One thing which annoys me a bit is the position of the "Last Service Sent" on the running rails. It can be very confusing as you mix these up with active train headers. I think it makes more sense to have these boxes out of the way of the actual lines.
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Last Service Notices 25/07/2021 at 17:03 #140745
headshot119
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4869 posts
Hi Ray, I'm glad you're enjoying the sim. The last sent berths are placed per the Westinghouse Train Describer screens for Chester PSB, which have them on the running lines. One of those real life quirks!
"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
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Last Service Notices 26/07/2021 at 16:27 #140755
Newhampshires
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101 posts
For whatever it's worth, you may always right click and select "Cancel" and that will remove the head code. Doesn't fix the problem of them being placed there to begin with, but somewhat a solution.
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Last Service Notices 26/07/2021 at 16:37 #140756
Hap
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972 posts
Newhampshires in post 140755 said:
For whatever it's worth, you may always right click and select "Cancel" and that will remove the head code. Doesn't fix the problem of them being placed there to begin with, but somewhat a solution.
It's not a "problem". It's how it's designed to work, it is how they are irl.

How to report an issue: www.SimSig.co.uk/Wiki/Show?page=usertrack:reportanissue
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The following users said thank you: Stephen Fulcher, jc92
Last Service Notices 26/07/2021 at 22:03 #140760
bill_gensheet
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1309 posts
How is the 'last sent' information used by real life signallers ?

Bill

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Last Service Notices 27/07/2021 at 16:27 #140770
GeoffM
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6274 posts
bill_gensheet in post 140760 said:
How is the 'last sent' information used by real life signallers ?

Bill
I believe it's used in the event of failure: if, for some reason, the next 'box didn't get the description transferred then the originating 'box has a memory jogger of what was last sent.

SimSig Boss
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The following users said thank you: bill_gensheet, Hap, Newhampshires
Last Service Notices 27/07/2021 at 18:25 #140773
TUT
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505 posts
Pretty useful in other instances too.

Let's say you are told about an obstruction between your box and the next box, you try and get the signal back but the train's just gone past it, you're sending the emergency alarm and now you're gonna call the train on the GSM-R: pretty useful that last send TD berth really, so you can see at once which headcode you want (assuming a REC isn't required).

There are other situations it'd be pretty handy for as well. Say you need a train to examine the line between your box and the next box. You give the driver the necessary instructions, send it on its way. Quite nice to have that TD still there in case you need to phone up the next signaller and ask how the train's getting on if you haven't heard back or whatever. Can be very useful for getting your clear understanding

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The following users said thank you: Newhampshires, Hap, jc92, GeoffM, bill_gensheet, postal
Last Service Notices 04/08/2021 at 09:17 #140951
kbarber
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1708 posts
I suspect it may also be there for historical reasons. When train describers started to become a thing, it was useful to know the description had indeed transmitted and not got lost in the electrickery between the boxes. There were also some places (the 1949 signalling from Liverpool Street to Shenfield comes to mind) where, provided routes were set for the train to proceed (even if one or more ahead was occupied), the description would be transmitted before the train reached the last controlled signal - the boxes were so close together that the early warning of approaching trains was extremely useful. In that instance (and it was an early system nothing like the modern 4-character describers) an indication was appended to the description to show it had pre-transmitted and a duplicate description would appear in the 'last sent' berth.

As power signalling spread, 'last sent' remained the norm for many years. I don't know whether it's still provided. Remember Chester is a 1980s installation. I remember Chester before it was commissioned, but frighteningly it's now an old box in need of replacement.

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Last Service Notices 04/08/2021 at 10:35 #140952
Ray
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211 posts
I have no major problem with the last service notices. They serve a useful function. In many simulations you hardly notice them and they do not confuse. However in the Chester sim they are particularly obtrusive just by the nature of the layout and as they are on the running lines with the same font colour, they can cause some confusion with the live services. Furthermore I have noticed that they can announce a service which hasnt even reached the end point of a sim line.
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Last Service Notices 04/08/2021 at 15:37 #140964
GeoffM
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6274 posts
Ray in post 140952 said:
Furthermore I have noticed that they can announce a service which hasnt even reached the end point of a sim line.
Some places (in real life) transmit as soon as the TD steps past the point of no return, meaning it could populate several auto signals before the handover point to the next 'box.

SimSig Boss
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