Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 3]

[Nik da Greek]

bomb said:

In Railway Stations :- alongside the platform, down at track level there are often wires that run parallel to the platform structure. They are about 6 inches above the ground, and supported by small 'pegs' with a small roller/sheave.

What is the purpose of them - what do they do ?

Difficult to say 100% from that description but likely to be part of the track circuit system. The rails create a potential difference between themselves which is effectively joined by the axle of the trainwheels passing along them. By harnessing this earthing effect, the signalling equipment can "see" where the train is at any given time by which track circuit it has operated. Usually broken up into "signal sections"... which is what it says on the tin, the distance between two signals... a track circuit can be smaller such as in places where points are and suchlike. The train activating the track circuit will automatically put the signal "behind" back to danger, which means it's a great and simple way of managing signals and the regulation of trains.

Until it goes wrong, of course

[Dr Jekyll]

Vaud said:

Pixel Pusher said:

Why doesn't anyone in Star Wars wear a watch?

They can build you a Death Star or an Imperial star destroyer or make the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs but not have any idea of what the time of day is.

They have bigger issues. Like the tendency to built inherent weak points into their most strategic assets. And not just once.

That and their technology allow light speed but not automated targeting of laser canons.

The biggest issue is trying to time their intergalactic Stig's Kessel run using units of distance rather than time, so a lot to be sorted out before they worry about watches.

[Issi]

ambuletz said:

Why do DJS almost always end the last 30minutes of music with crap cheese music like a greased lightening remix, queen and other 80s stuff I can't think off the top of my head. It doesnt seem to matter much what genre is played the whole night, it always rounds off with that.

I genuinely had to read the posts below to work out what a DJS was.

[bomb]

Nik da Greek said:

bomb said:

In Railway Stations :- alongside the platform, down at track level there are often wires that run parallel to the platform structure. They are about 6 inches above the ground, and supported by small 'pegs' with a small roller/sheave.

What is the purpose of them - what do they do ?

Difficult to say 100% from that description but likely to be part of the track circuit system. The rails create a potential difference between themselves which is effectively joined by the axle of the trainwheels passing along them. By harnessing this earthing effect, the signalling equipment can "see" where the train is at any given time by which track circuit it has operated. Usually broken up into "signal sections"... which is what it says on the tin, the distance between two signals... a track circuit can be smaller such as in places where points are and suchlike. The train activating the track circuit will automatically put the signal "behind" back to danger, which means it's a great and simple way of managing signals and the regulation of trains.

Until it goes wrong, of course

That makes sense. Thanks for that Nik.

[Harrytsg]

bomb said:

Nik da Greek said:

bomb said:

In Railway Stations :- alongside the platform, down at track level there are often wires that run parallel to the platform structure. They are about 6 inches above the ground, and supported by small 'pegs' with a small roller/sheave.

What is the purpose of them - what do they do ?

Difficult to say 100% from that description but likely to be part of the track circuit system. The rails create a potential difference between themselves which is effectively joined by the axle of the trainwheels passing along them. By harnessing this earthing effect, the signalling equipment can "see" where the train is at any given time by which track circuit it has operated. Usually broken up into "signal sections"... which is what it says on the tin, the distance between two signals... a track circuit can be smaller such as in places where points are and suchlike. The train activating the track circuit will automatically put the signal "behind" back to danger, which means it's a great and simple way of managing signals and the regulation of trains.

Until it goes wrong, of course

That makes sense. Thanks for that Nik.

Do the wires/cables look like this (they can vary in numbers), if so its for semaphore signalling, there's still a fair bit of it around, particularly in rural areas

[Nik da Greek]

Harry's answer makes a lot more sense than mine ^^^ , given that I completely missed the bit about the rollers My bad! I'm a victim of my own lack of flexibility regarding terminology, lol, where semaphore signals are pulled by cables and electrical ones by wires!

This is an impedance bond (otherwise known as a spider), the device that operates track circuits, featuring the sort of "wires" I was thinking of

[bomb]

Its Harrys response that I was referring to. The ones I have seen have been either single or double wires.
Thanks !

[Vipers]

Is there a word for the action of DJ's when they put their finger on a record and work it back and forth.

[DrTre]

scratching

edit: if you mean with the needle down.

Edited by DrTre on Sunday 7th February 19:52

[Vipers]

DrTre said:

scratching

edit: if you mean with the needle down.

Edited by DrTre on Sunday 7th February 19:52

Yes with the needle down.

Just googled scratching, (after you told me), , spot on, cheers.


https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=scratching&r...

Edited by Vipers on Sunday 7th February 20:23

[dudleybloke]

They could be cueing the record up or scratching.

[DrTre]

dudleybloke said:

They could be cueing the record up or scratching.

Cueing up was what I couldn't remember.

(When I said "with the needle down" that was a complete balls up, what I meant was "with it audible to the audience".)

[Tango13]

Just watched an advert for painting images onto marshmallows.

Is there anything they won't print? If you didn't like someone could you send them goatse on marshmallows?

[markmullen]

Tango13 said:

Just watched an advert for painting images onto marshmallows.

Is there anything they won't print? If you didn't like someone could you send them goatse on marshmallows?

I really do think there is only one suitable method of testing that hypothesis

[kowalski655]

markmullen said:

Tango13 said:

Just watched an advert for painting images onto marshmallows.

Is there anything they won't print? If you didn't like someone could you send them goatse on marshmallows?

I really do think there is only one suitable method of testing that hypothesis

Apparently not

boomf.com said:

You are prohibited from posting or transmitting to or from the Website any material:
1. That is ..... obscene, indecent, seditious, offensive, pornographic,.....and some other stuff

Just text a dick pic for valentines instead

[mattdaniels]

kowalski655 said:

markmullen said:

Tango13 said:

Just watched an advert for painting images onto marshmallows.

Is there anything they won't print? If you didn't like someone could you send them goatse on marshmallows?

I really do think there is only one suitable method of testing that hypothesis

Apparently not

boomf.com said:

You are prohibited from posting or transmitting to or from the Website any material:
1. That is ..... obscene, indecent, seditious, offensive, pornographic,.....and some other stuff

Just text a dick pic for valentines instead

Selfridges don't seem as fussy.

http://metro.co.uk/2016/01/14/guy-proves-selfridge...

[JustinF]

mattdaniels said:

kowalski655 said:

markmullen said:

Tango13 said:

Just watched an advert for painting images onto marshmallows.

Is there anything they won't print? If you didn't like someone could you send them goatse on marshmallows?

I really do think there is only one suitable method of testing that hypothesis

Apparently not

boomf.com said:

You are prohibited from posting or transmitting to or from the Website any material:
1. That is ..... obscene, indecent, seditious, offensive, pornographic,.....and some other stuff

Just text a dick pic for valentines instead

Selfridges don't seem as fussy.

http://metro.co.uk/2016/01/14/guy-proves-selfridge...

I have a laser engraver...send marshmallows.

[DickyC]

JustinF said:

I have a laser engraver...send marshmallows.

The waters of Swansea Bay are frozen over.

[A.J.M]

Are there some fancy medical or scientific names for a double chin?

[Ayahuasca]

A.J.M said:

Are there some fancy medical or scientific names for a double chin?

Yes - piesita facialis