Life on the Rails

[Syt]

Well, it's the REM, so I won't be Losing My Religion. After all, Everybody Hurts sometimes. It's still easier than putting a Man On the Moon, and once it recovers its Drive, the commuters will again be Shiny Happy People.

[Jacob]

We're extending our local train system as well in Vancouver. So far there are no reports of massive delays or cost overruns that I'm aware of.

Knock on wood.

[crazy canuck]

Well, it's the REM, so I won't be Losing My Religion. After all, Everybody Hurts sometimes. It's still easier than putting a Man On the Moon, and once it recovers its Drive, the commuters will again be Shiny Happy People.

 

We're extending our local train system as well in Vancouver. So far there are no reports of massive delays or cost overruns that I'm aware of.

Knock on wood.

I was counsel for a stakeholder making submissions on said expansion in the late 90s and initial regulatory approval was granted in 2000ish.

Not too sure we can claim there has not been a delay.

[Jacob]

I was counsel for a stakeholder making submissions on said expansion in the late 90s and initial regulatory approval was granted in 2000ish.

Not too sure we can claim there has not been a delay.

 

I was speaking strictly about after construction started on the current expansion. I make no claims about what went on before the start of construction.

[Grey Fox]

Montreal's light train will get there, it's fully automated so it's going to take a while ironing out the bugs.

That said, it's really annoying that every-time the GMA gets a new way of traveling, we have to lose a previous one. They really like playing it has a zero-sum game.

[mongers]

I've mentioned how much I like trains, haven't I? 

Anyway I'm thinking of having a I.K.Brunel themed day out by month's end. Start at the Steam museum in Brunel's Swindon, travel down his Great Western line to Bristol Temple Meads station (designed by him) and finish up onboard his SS Great Britain Iron-hulled steamship in Bristol docks.

Would also like to include an upline journey to London Paddington station, still mainly his work, but I think that'll make it too long a day, plus a bit silly to travel there, just to turn around and head straight back.

[mongers]

World's longest train tunnel partially closed for months to come:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66530480

SBB said that in total, around 8km (4.9 miles) of track and 20,000 concrete sleepers needed to be replaced.

That's one hell of a job.

[Iormlund]

Having Left4Dead flashbacks seeing that.

[Josquius]

I wonder how it happened and whether it was another company's train

[Savonarola]

I interviewed an engineer today from Ukraine.  He's been living in Toronto since November.

Interviewee:  And when I came here I took the train to Niagara and I was shocked that they were all diesel trains.  Even in Ukraine trains have been electric for 50 years.
Savonarola:  Wait until you see the hand thrown switches.

 

I didn't really tell him that, there's no sense in discouraging him already. 

[Savonarola]

So we have a new radio project that we're a sub-contractor on; we're just responsible for designing the radio cabinet.  Since it's just installation my colleague Brandon is doing the design and I'm just providing some insight.  The customer has specified an external amplifier immediately after the radio. 

Savonarola:  Why do we have external amplifier, are we downlink^1. limited?

Brandon:  I don't know.

Savonarola:  Usually we're uplink^1. limited so we would put the amplifier near the antenna.  The signal attenuates as it goes through the line putting it closer to the noise floor and the amplifier amplifies both the noise as well as the signal.  It's like your stereo, you have the pre-amp near the broadcasters... well I guess that shows my age.

  

1.)  Downlink is communication from the base station to the train, uplink is communication from the train to the base station.