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GPS On Loco idea

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by guycarr360, Feb 10, 2012.

  1. guycarr360

    guycarr360 Part of the furniture

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    Dont know if many of you read the wnxx forum, but a lad on their has managed to link into a GPS located on a DVT of an East Coast 225 set.

    Its available at http://bbarker.co.uk/eastCoast/

    Makes for fascinating watching as it shows speed, as well as location, and gives an idea of how many runs are done a day.

    Question is, why does not somebody do this for a mainline loco, thought the A1 trust were threatening it at some stage..

    Mods: May be in wrong forum, move if reqd.
     
  2. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

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    Like the steam loco icon!
     
  3. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Looks better if you convert to satellite view..
     
  4. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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  5. admin

    admin Founder Administrator

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    We have a GPS system, ready to go, on either a Loco or carriage stock.
     
  6. campainr

    campainr Well-Known Member

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    Yes I'm sure groups at least for some part of the time don't want absolutely anyone knowing where their loco is parked. A portable set someone could carry with them as a passenger on a tour would be a better than fixing it to a particular loco.
     
  7. admin

    admin Founder Administrator

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    Which is what we do on certain tours, The GPS send information direct to our server. Which then displays that data on a map.
     
  8. guycarr360

    guycarr360 Part of the furniture

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    Think it would be fitted with an off switch..............
     
  9. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    In which case these things tend to indicate where they last were before being turned off, in my experience.
     
  10. guycarr360

    guycarr360 Part of the furniture

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    In which case you turn it off before you reach your stabling point. Lets be honest most Stabling Points are in depots with security for main line locos anyway....
     
  11. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    On every tour there must be at least 20 gps units sitting by the window. iPad / iphone can do it too.
     
  12. 32110

    32110 Member

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    On my PC something seems to be wrong. Train reported just north of Sandy station travelling at 121.1 mph but not moving!
     
  13. odc

    odc Member

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    K1 and 87 were fitted with GPS speedos for a time until the batterys ran out and nobody used them anyway. In the US for the last 3 years to my knowage Union Pacific have linked a GPS in their support car to their website to update where their steam locos are and SP4449 used a GPS speedo and location transmitter on its 2009 trip to Michigan. Last year the loco was about to be declared a failure as the battery had died on a fan trip on a Sunday when the shops were shut. A local enthusiast donated his car battery so the train could continue with a speedo working..........though I personally think they were a bit daft to have disconnected the only mechanical one.
     

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