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| Should you always answer telephone calls? 01/01/2021 at 20:33 #135837 | |
Bonan
52 posts |
Of course I don't know the views on this in the UK, but here in Sweden this is jokingly called "telephone-controlled signals". Our communication system allows the signaller to see the headcode of the train calling on a display, and if you realise the train is standing at a signal that shouldn't be at danger, you'll just clear it and the driver usually hangs up on you. This is generally viewed as somewhat awkward for the signaller but not particularly serious. Of course, if there was a real reason why the train was being held, I would answer the driver right away.
Swedish driver and part-time signaller Last edited: 01/01/2021 at 20:38 by Bonan Reason: None given Log in to reply |
| Should you always answer telephone calls? 05/01/2021 at 06:01 #135975 | |
Hawk777
386 posts |
I too try to answer all the phone calls immediately, but I do feel like sometimes I’m spending more time rapidly pressing A and clicking “shut up for 15 minutes” than I am actually signalling, when there are serious failures!
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| Should you always answer telephone calls? 05/01/2021 at 08:09 #135976 | |
Splodge
702 posts |
Realistically in the modern era, a train stopped at a signal is unlikely to generate a telephone call - GSM-R means we don't need to use SPTs any more, instead we press a button on the GSM-R panel marked 'SG' - this generates a 'train xXxx waiting at Sxxx' message in the signalbox's own GSMR terminal. The signaller can choose to ignore it (if the signal is shortly to clear, or as sometimes happens, if it clears between SG being pressed and the message being received), send an automatic 'wait' reply, or contact the train if circumstances require. The rulebook allows us to wait up to two minutes before pressing this if we can see why we are at a red signal - so when operating around Piccadilly it's usually pretty obvious why we're waiting; but if I'm held at one of the signals at Dinting, for example, I'll press it as soon as I come to a stand as it is quite unusual for conflicting moves to be occurring (other than waiting for a train to come off the single line at DG2). A few locations (New Mills Central for one) have signs advising us not to use the SG button in certain locations, and so in the event of needing to contact the signaller we dial the box from the GSMR (which has the number for every signal box in the country built in) or can use an SPT. So its therefore fairly realistic to simply reply with 'wait x minutes', treating the phone call as a GSM-R text message and the response as a 'wait' reply. It's also perfectly normal for a driver to proceed without any response from the signaller should the signal clear. There's the right way, the wrong way and the railway. Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Cedric2 |
| Should you always answer telephone calls? 05/01/2021 at 13:53 #135991 | |
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Late Turn
696 posts |
Splodge in post 135976 said:It's also perfectly normal for a driver to proceed without any response from the signaller should the signal clear. The signalman can, of course, reply to an SG message once you're on the move again. Often several minutes later. "Wait"! Log in to reply |
| Should you always answer telephone calls? 05/01/2021 at 14:40 #136000 | |
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Splodge
702 posts |
Yeah, I've had that. I presume it's effectively muscle memory in much the same way that we rapidly click 'call back in 15 minutes' when playing a disrupted TT!
There's the right way, the wrong way and the railway. Log in to reply |
| Should you always answer telephone calls? 05/01/2021 at 14:59 #136002 | |
bugsy
1695 posts |
I've been doing that quite a bit on Central Scotland, more so than on any other sim as far as I can remember and I've even got failures, etc. set to a minimum.
Everything that you make will be useful - providing it's made of chocolate. Log in to reply |
| Should you always answer telephone calls? 05/01/2021 at 17:29 #136009 | |
GeoffM
6282 posts |
Splodge in post 135976 said:Realistically in the modern era, a train stopped at a signal is unlikely to generate a telephone call - GSM-R means we don't need to use SPTs any more, instead we press a button on the GSM-R panel marked 'SG' - this generates a 'train xXxx waiting at Sxxx' message in the signalbox's own GSMR terminal.This is part of the reason why the wording in SimSig changed from "Telephone" to "Telephone/Radio" in places. With the variety of areas we cover (including Australia), it would be a mammoth task to try to simulate every system propery (push button concentrator, touch-screen concentrator, CSR, NRN, company mobiles, GSM-R... and different brands thereof). So we opted for a generic "telephone/radio" interface. SimSig Boss Last edited: 05/01/2021 at 17:30 by GeoffM Reason: None given Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Splodge |