Waiting for a North London train a couple of days ago the station person
(what are they called these days?) came down onto the platform carrying what
looked like a mobile phone. He went behind the side of the shelter and
appeared to hold the "mobile phone" to the fence (the fence was creosoted a
very dark colour). He appeared to do the same thing in more than one place
on both platforms. When I looked there was a black "stud" (only word I can
think of) which was simply inserted into the fence panel - it wasn't a
fastener, there was not a post or anything behind the panel.

Is there any significance to his actions?

On 14 June, 16:35, Paul Corfield wrote:
On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:29:37 +0100, "Graham Harrison"

wrote:
Waiting for a North London train a couple of days ago the station person
(what are they called these days?) came down onto the platform carrying what
looked like a mobile phone. * He went behind the side of the shelter and
appeared to hold the "mobile phone" to the fence (the fence was creosoted a
very dark colour). * He appeared to do the same thing in more than one place
on both platforms. * When I looked there was a black "stud" (only word I can
think of) which was simply inserted into the fence panel - it wasn't a
fastener, there was not a post or anything behind the panel.

Is there any significance to his actions?

The "studs" are almost certainly a location identifier that the hand
held unit will read. By holding the unit against the stud it shows he
has been to the area as part of a planned inspection. Bar codes can also
be used. I have seen building security staff use this system to prove
they've undertaken their rounds. *LUL is trialling something similar to
be able to record the fact that hourly security checks around the
station have been completed.

--
Paul C

In olden times, there were mechanical versions of this system, where
staff had to punch a small card or similar actin to show they had done
their rounds. The machines were known as 'tell tales'.

On 14 June, 17:53, tony wrote:
In olden times, there were mechanical versions of this system, where
staff had to punch a small card or similar action


A practice not unknown to public transport in bygone days;

http://www.kfriends.org.uk/projects/bundy.htm

--
gordon

wrote in message
...
On 14 June, 17:53, tony wrote:
In olden times, there were mechanical versions of this system, where
staff had to punch a small card or similar action


A practice not unknown to public transport in bygone days;

http://www.kfriends.org.uk/projects/bundy.htm

--
gordon

I remember similar devices in London.

Paul Corfield wrote:
On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:29:37 +0100, "Graham Harrison"
wrote:

Waiting for a North London train a couple of days ago the
station
person (what are they called these days?) came down onto the
platform carrying what looked like a mobile phone. He went
behind
the side of the shelter and appeared to hold the "mobile
phone" to
the fence (the fence was creosoted a very dark colour). He
appeared to do the same thing in more than one place on both
platforms. When I looked there was a black "stud" (only
word I
can think of) which was simply inserted into the fence
panel - it
wasn't a fastener, there was not a post or anything behind
the
panel.

Is there any significance to his actions?

The "studs" are almost certainly a location identifier that the
hand
held unit will read. By holding the unit against the stud it
shows he
has been to the area as part of a planned inspection. Bar codes
can
also be used. I have seen building security staff use this
system to
prove they've undertaken their rounds. LUL is trialling
something
similar to be able to record the fact that hourly security
checks
around the station have been completed.

We had a system like this at work - referred to as a "Deister". I
presume they are the manufacturers.

--
MatSav

On Jun 14, 7:12 pm, Owain wrote:
Paul Corfield wrote:
The "studs" are almost certainly a location identifier that the hand
held unit will read. By holding the unit against the stud it shows he
has been to the area as part of a planned inspection. Bar codes can also
be used. I have seen building security staff use this system to prove
they've undertaken their rounds. LUL is trialling something similar to
be able to record the fact that hourly security checks around the
station have been completed.

Some systems in 'night watchman' scenarios can raise an alarm if a
location point isn't scanned within a time tolerance, in case the
watchman has been apprehended by villains.

Owain

And Victorian/Edwardian policemen had to call in from police boxes on
a regular basis.
But there's an element of New Labour target-driven BS - it doesn't
matter whether you pay any attention, talk to the passengers etc, just
go round and clock in as required.
Tim

In message
wrote:

On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:36:01 -0700 (PDT), TimB
wrote:

On Jun 14, 7:12 pm, Owain wrote:
Paul Corfield wrote:
The "studs" are almost certainly a location identifier that the hand
held unit will read. By holding the unit against the stud it shows he
has been to the area as part of a planned inspection.

Some systems in 'night watchman' scenarios can raise an alarm if a
location point isn't scanned within a time tolerance, in case the
watchman has been apprehended by villains.

Owain

And Victorian/Edwardian policemen had to call in from police boxes on
a regular basis.

Did the Victorian police really have access to phones? I'd have
thought it would still be fairly rare in Edwardian times.


The first police phone boxes were in Glasgow in 1891, then Sunderland in
1923, Newcastle in 1925 and London 1928

They were phased out after the introduction of personal radios in the 1970s
though one is still in use in Newtown Linford.

--
Graeme Wall

This address not read, substitute trains for rail
Transport Miscellany at www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail

In message , at 22:22:37 on Mon,
15 Jun 2009, rail remarked:
Did the Victorian police really have access to phones? I'd have
thought it would still be fairly rare in Edwardian times.

The first police phone boxes were in Glasgow in 1891, then Sunderland in
1923, Newcastle in 1925 and London 1928

They were phased out after the introduction of personal radios in the 1970s
though one is still in use in Newtown Linford.

And not forgetting another one that Dr Who uses

Of course, the original reason that a Police Box was chosen as his
"disguise" in the original 1960's episode was that it could land almost
anywhere in London and not look out of place...

And getting back to the original theme of "reporting in", the police
boxes were 2-way, with the flashing blue light indicating that an
officer should call the police station and see what was wanted.
--
Roland Perry

In message
Roland Perry wrote:

In message , at 22:22:37 on Mon,
15 Jun 2009, rail remarked:
Did the Victorian police really have access to phones? I'd have
thought it would still be fairly rare in Edwardian times.

The first police phone boxes were in Glasgow in 1891, then Sunderland in
1923, Newcastle in 1925 and London 1928

They were phased out after the introduction of personal radios in the
1970s though one is still in use in Newtown Linford.

And not forgetting another one that Dr Who uses

I know it well :-)


Of course, the original reason that a Police Box was chosen as his
"disguise" in the original 1960's episode was that it could land almost
anywhere in London and not look out of place...

And getting back to the original theme of "reporting in", the police
boxes were 2-way, with the flashing blue light indicating that an
officer should call the police station and see what was wanted.

Or that it was about to vanish...

--
Graeme Wall

This address not read, substitute trains for rail
Transport Miscellany at www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
Of course, the original reason that a Police Box was chosen as his
"disguise" in the original 1960's episode was that it could land almost
anywhere in London and not look out of place...

Roland Perry

Wasnt it supposed to adapt its outward appearence depending on where it
landed. However that bit had failed so it was stuck as a police box.

cheers,
Simon