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[email protected] · December 10th 04, 06:11 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In article ,
(Robert Woolley) wrote:

On Thu, 9 Dec 2004 14:26:13 -0000, "Garry Smith"
wrote:

"Boltar" wrote in message

Seems like a pretty good system and I guess you can understand why
running a service without it would be difficult.

Out of curiosity, how did the service operate before the use
of these radios? Two men in the cab, or a less thorough
approach to safety?

Guards.

Rob.
--
rob at robertwoolley dot co dot uk

Yes

If the driver collapsed, the Guard would, after he realised nothing was
happening (or the deadman operated)and couldn't get a reply from the
driver, the Guard would just kick him out of the way and drive the train
to the next station. Then, if no spare driver was available the Guard
would detrain and take the train away after the driver had been taken off.
Not too much time lost and only one train affected, other than trains
behind being held up.

Now, there is a 1½ minute delay before the Line Controller gets the OPO
alarm, a further delay while he tries to contact the driver and probably
quite a considerable delay while the trains behind are leapfrogged until a
spare driver is got to the scene.

That's progress :-)

Roger