Talk:Interlocking

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[edit] What are the odds?

Slambo: What are the odds

• that when I visited Wikipedia's Interlocking page, that I discover that the image illustrating the article is of the very same interlocking tower I grew up near and spent time visiting?
• that, when I searched my photo archives for images to illustrate the locking machinery, it dawned on me that my best image was of the same tower?

Small world, eh?

By the way, I updated the opening paragraph per your suggestion. The definition that appears there is a typical railroad definition of interlocking; I didn't provide attribution because there are so many unpublished sources (railroad rule books and the like) that make the same or similar definition. Regards. — JonRoma 18:25, 21 January 2006 (UTC)

Indeed. That's the only tower that I've actually visited (although I never got to look inside). I'm a little farther north now, but still within range for a day trip. Slambo (Speak) 19:45, 21 January 2006 (UTC)

Sadly, Deval Tower closed during 2005 after an electrical fire damaged the 1910-vintage interlocking machine to the degree where it could not economically be repaired. The plant is now remote-controlled, though the tower still stands and is used by railroad maintenance forces. I'm glad I took lots of photos inside and around before it closed. — JonRoma 20:03, 21 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] An image like this one would be great

Something like [1] would be useful for understanding the concept of a mechanical interlocking. --NE2 22:07, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

But that picture doesn't show any interlocking; it's just a load of rodding and cranks. A better picture would be one like this: [2] which the article already has. A diagram might help to clarify things too. Signalhead 22:22, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

It shows one part of the system - the connection between the board and the tracks. --NE2 22:57, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

It might be more relevant to an article on mechanical signalling. I'm sure I have a similar photo of my own that could be used, were such an article to be written. Signalhead 23:08, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

This article mentions those: "In purely mechanical plants, the levers operate the field devices, such as signals, directly via a mechanical rodding or wire connection." --NE2 23:16, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

There is also the lever frame article, which mentions the rods and wires as well. I just feel that an article on interlocking isn't the most appropriate place to discuss the connections to the outside apparatus, as that doesn't form part of the interlocking. Signalhead 23:34, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Not solid state

Modern interlocking in germany (as implemented by Siemens and SEL) is operating on special general purpose computers. These work with a 2-out-of-3 logic in software. Any command will only be obeyed too after two out of three of the computers issue essentually the same command. Therefore any command will be analysed before, that the numbers of the issuing computers in the telegram are different and not equal to 0 (zero), redundancy bits in the telegram must be correct. These programs have to be approved by the german institution called Eisenbahn-Bundesamt. Both providers use different computer hardware bought "off the shelve". So its not solid state - its software only. --SonniWP 13:55, 12 June 2007 (UTC)