emergencey, does anybody know how to use tops?

[steve33108]

This is like an emergencey annoucement, i could really use detailed instructions on how to use tops, the flying scotsman is coming down tomorrow {21.09.02}, i knowe someone with access to it, but neither him or any colleages can remember how to use it, the only person who can isnt on tonight. pleae help, i have to go out now, but will check my emails a s a p in the morning
many thanx

[steve33108]

well, i didnt get any response's, but i would still like to klnow how to use it, its forgone thing that i will share any info with the site etc

[Goingnorth]

What do you want to know? I can some of it...

Try typing MEND which is pretty helpful

TRJA is a location query...You have to know the codes or guess...Sometimes typing the whole name helps eg TRJA OXFORD or abveviated OXF...So TRJA OXF CX5 W will give you a current line of up trains at Oxford minus empty stock...I think if you scroll down the list and put D in...it comes up with the detail.

TRJC is a for a train inquiry...So TRJC 1A14 will give you the running times for 1A14 (note there might be several 1A14s!)...If will give you all the delay reasons and codes too.

TRJB is last reported point TRJB 1V23 for example

TSIA is another.

There's loads of stuff but I can't remember it all now!

[steve33108]

thanx going north, i have a rough idea of wot todays timings r, but will keep a copy of you're info, so i can teach that lot at fratton depot!

[Kevo00]

Out of interest what actually is TOPS? I know the BR numbers used since 1973 are part of it, but is it acutally a whole computer system or software system?

And if so is the entire railway system still working around a 30 year old command line based piece of software, or has it been modified since?

[steve33108]

going north, you field this one, no offence, but you no more than me about it!

[exshunter]

well i think that TOPS(total operations processing system)records every piece of rolling stock in uk- locos wagons where they are what there doing etc etc but i could be wrong
im afraid thats all i know

[Goingnorth]

Okay, it's an ancient command line computer system developed by BR in the early 1970s. These days most TOPS terminals are PCs running an emulation window, effectively a communication to the mainframe computers which are situated around the country. The system is very archiac and totally user unfriendly.

I would have hoped Railtrack (and the TOCs) would have spent money renewing the system to run on windows over local area networks and IP protocols. But they seem to want to spend money of other things.

Nevertheless, if it wasn't for TOPs you wouldn't have numbers on the side of trains. That was all based around the original TOPS concept, same with wagon numbers and train reporting numbers. It was all an early BR scheme to keep track of vehicles, loads and the whereabouts of trains. Today it is far more developed and you can get passsenger loading figures, fuel amounts, delay reason, logs and much more out of it.

The train reporting system works from manual inputing or automatic reporting. Basically, certain signals are reporting points and as the train steps through the signal box train describer it sends the information via a PC to the mainframe. You can actually fiddle the system BTW my manually stepping trains in the Train describer too!

The reporting points tend to be stations and strategic junctions. The sytem also records which line the train is routed via. So, in essence with the system anyone with a terminal call tell where any vechicle or train is and why it has been delayed within a few miles.

Going onto delay, if the train loses time between the reporting points it throughs up a delay query. So the Zone controllers and data clerks spend hours trying to find out the reasons. The first point of call is usally the controlling signal box. Sometimes they are not sure, so have to make a few inquires and sometimes various members of staff get 'please explains'. Any 'minutes' that are not accounted for Railtrack pay for..between £10 and £100 per minute with various other penalties too. So with the privatised railway, these 'minutes' of delay are very central to day-to-day running.

There are other systems in place. EWS use satallite tracking as do a few others. Also many signal boxes, stations, control offices and train crew depots have TMIS (Train monitoring information system). Which is a
detailed display, signal-by-signal to where trains are and how many minutes they are overdue at signals. You can even get the signal aspects too in some cases and the route that's set, so it's very detailed.
The TMIS system tends to cover whole zones and more. For example some GW zones boxes can get the whereabouts of any train over most of the zone down to Liskeard, up to North of New street and down the cross country lines and into Paddington.

In other words, the whole of the railway is very monitored. Apart from the driver and guard 100s of staff can see tend to watch the whereabouts of trains. Not only that, certain websites actually provide this information too! So you and I can get simplified 'at station' information.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/departure ... rtures.htm

http://www.thamestrains.co.uk

for example

[Kevo00]

Thanks for that Rob, you don't tend to realise that things are so complex although I always did wonder how passenger info displays were compiled. Thats really quite a good system, but like you say its probably about time to improve it.