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Train plotting

You are here: Home > Forum > Miscellaneous > The real thing (anything else rail-oriented) > Train plotting

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Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 06:55 #28982
Peter Bennet
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http://bbarker.co.uk/eastCoast/

Appears to be just the one set of stock at the moment.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 07:05 #28983
Tallington
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254 posts
Is the direction of smoke an accurate wind direction?
Will try to catch it s/bound over this crossing here!

Thanks for that - interesting times...

Ken B)

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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 08:18 #28984
lazzer
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Is it southbound, or on an S-bend?
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 10:43 #28986
WesternChampion
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Fascinating! 1E09 is slowing for the curve at Morpeth as I write this.

The icon is perhaps a little old-fashioned...

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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 11:41 #28988
Peter Bennet
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Doing 125.4mph at Thisk

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 11:53 #28989
Horgy
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This obviously works by accessing Network Rail's live movements service, through some sort of SDK. Does anyone here have details of it?
JGH
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 11:53 #28990
postal
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5264 posts
Not so sure that any sort of live movements service will return current train speed to one place of decimals. This is going to take a lot of manpower if it is a man and a GPS on every train!
“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
Last edited: 07/02/2012 at 11:55 by postal
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 11:58 #28991
Horgy
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That surely can't be how it's done? I tried looking at the source but it's a java applet hosted on the server.
JGH
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 12:00 #28992
Late Turn
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699 posts
I don't believe that Network Rail have any sort of system that returns the current speed of any train (other than average speeds that could be calculated by TC occupation - if even that's done regularly) - how would they get the information??
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 12:18 #28993
furid
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I think it must be scraping information off TRUST, with an added few rough calculations between two points you must be able to get an average speed?

Just had the two running side by side and it hit bang on Temple Hirst Junction just as TRUST reported it passing there.

Currently 1min late

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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 12:23 #28994
WesternChampion
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Looks like GPS data to me...
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 12:27 #28995
GeoffM
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" said:
I think it must be scraping information off TRUST, with an added few rough calculations between two points you must be able to get an average speed?
No, the train speeds up and slows down between timing points. I would assume it's simply a box on the train that reads an on-board GPS and fires it off to a web server somewhere.

Since I last looked a couple of hours ago, it's gone from Dunbar to off the coast of Ghana (lat/lon 0/0). Impressive speed. [Later] ah, it's reappeared on the east coast again.

SimSig Boss
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The following user said thank you: furid
Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 12:32 #28996
Horgy
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I too agree it must be some sort of GPS, to plot it so well. What we need is someone to put a red in front of it and see if it slows on the map!

The question is, if he has a data feed, why aren't a few more trains plotted?

JGH
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 12:37 #28997
Peter Bennet
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5402 posts
" said:
" said:
I think it must be scraping information off TRUST, with an added few rough calculations between two points you must be able to get an average speed?
No, the train speeds up and slows down between timing points. I would assume it's simply a box on the train that reads an on-board GPS and fires it off to a web server somewhere.

Since I last looked a couple of hours ago, it's gone from Dunbar to off the coast of Ghana (lat/lon 0/0). Impressive speed. [Later] ah, it's reappeared on the east coast again.
I've seen reports of it going all over the world elsewhere!

I've seen reference explicitly to the DVT being tracked- that's the vehicle with the WiFi dome- might be fixing on that somehow.

This is the same chap that also gives us http://livetrains.co.uk/ and I think he posts here from time to time so maybe we will learn something later.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 12:38 #28998
Peter Bennet
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" said:

The question is, if he has a data feed, why aren't a few more trains plotted?
Might just be experimental at this stage.

peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 12:41 #28999
taffy
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The In-Train Entertainment system (Volo) fitted to HST carriages operating on the Great Western Main Line all have a GPS unit, and are transmitting this live to a central server.

Using a java applet, this GPS data is super-imposed onto a Google map, showing real-time set location, train speed and altitude.

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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 12:46 #29001
headshot119
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The data on the East Coast train is taken from the map which is available via the onboard train wifi.

That is why only one train is shown on the map, as just one train broadcasts the data to the internet to show it as a demo.

"Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 12:47 #29002
Horgy
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Further info here:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=51211

JGH
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 12:52 #29003
furid
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I think ill change my opinion to being GPS fed!

On a related note the Network Rail test trains use a bit of kit called RTPS (real time positioning system) which is a slightly more advanced system than that website!

It receives inputs from an inertial measurement unit, gyros, gps and tachos to calculate the trains position and what line its traveling on. (impressive to watch as it negotiates the complex track layouts of London's terminal stations) This data is then used to feed other systems on the trains.

To do all this though it requires a large bank of very expensive technology and computers!

Omnicom RTPS website

and my photo of it playing up

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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 19:11 #29031
Fireman Pat
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I've been monitoring this since it appeared about 3 or so months ago through the aforementioned rail forum. It was quite interesting and wierd to watch the train plough through the turnip fields forming the GE/GN Joint line thro Spalding to Lincoln & beyond during the ECML engineering possessions at Grantham as the ECML as depicted on the Google map doesn't highlight the route.

Somewhere, someone has posted the train number (not the headcode although that is shown) but the loco? number.

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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 20:01 #29036
Tallington
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Time now 20:00
Its next working is 1D31 - due to leave KGX at 20:05 for Leeds
GPS seems to struggle when stationary in the station for long periods!
Ken B)

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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 22:34 #29039
UKTrainMan
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It is now tracking 5D31.

" said:
Further info here:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=51211

" said:
This is the same chap that also gives us http://livetrains.co.uk/ and I think he posts here from time to time so maybe we will learn something later.
Same user as on here, dbrb2. I have PM'ed them out of courtesy regarding this thread.

Any views and / or opinions expressed by myself are from me personally and do not represent those of any company I either work for or am a consultant for.
Last edited: 07/02/2012 at 22:43 by UKTrainMan
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Re: Train plotting 07/02/2012 at 22:40 #29040
Peter Bennet
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Noted earlier that it appeared to have stopped at Peterborough Platform 3 (unusually). Checking elsewhere showed that indeed it had stopped there- so pretty accurate.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Re: Train plotting 08/02/2012 at 09:53 #29073
northroad
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872 posts
Being a few hours in front of you guys I was able to watch 5D31 whilst it was at Neville Hill through out the night. Quite a few moves and at one point it was shunted back onto the main line just outside Neville Hill. Must admit it was interesting to watch.
A good link to post guys and thank you.

Mind having said that 1D08 is currently stopped outside of Knebworth at 10:00 a.m.......is this a failure for the thunderbird to pick up?

Geoff

Last edited: 08/02/2012 at 10:01 by northroad
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Re: Train plotting 08/02/2012 at 10:35 #29084
Peter Bennet
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5402 posts
Person hit by train earlier.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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