Re: (erielack) FW: [Susquehanna] Southern Tier signals?

["Tom Beckett" <tabeckett_@_stny.rr.com>]

I wasn't aware of Electracode. Using the fiber optic cable for the 
signalling needs did strike me as a bit excessive-there didn't seem to be a 
need for anywhere near that much bandwidth. It did occur to me that since 
Sprint used so many railroad rights of way for their cables, maybe part of 
the deal was they carried the railroad's traffic as part payment for using 
the ROW.

Note to self: quit taking the Rolls to the Giant...

Tom B

- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tupaczewski, Paul R (Paul)" <paultup_@_lucent.com>
To: "'Richard Pennisi '" <eldispatcher72_@_yahoo.com>; "'Tom Beckett '" 
<tabeckett_@_stny.rr.com>; <erielack@lists.elhts.org>
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 12:49 PM
Subject: RE: (erielack) FW: [Susquehanna] Southern Tier signals?


> Rich Pennisi wrote:
>
>>Another alternative, and this could be the one NYS&W has chosen, is a
>>signal product called Electracode.  This system uses codes and voltages
>>thru the rail rather than transmission line (pole line).
>
> I'd be inclined to agree with Rich here. Most transmissions now pass 
> through the rails (take a look at most lineside signals and you'll see 
> connections to the rails nowadays).  Why bother putting down more cables 
> when you have two great conductors of electricity right there?
>
> Also, I don't think the railroads use fiber optics. That's way overkill 
> for their needs (kinda like using a Rolls Royce to go to the supermarket). 
> Most of the fiber optic cable laid along railroad tracks are for 
> communications providers (think Sprint, MCI, etc.), from which railroads 
> receive a nice source of rental revenue from.  (Factoid of the day: The 
> "SP" in "Sprint" stands for "Southern Pacific" - the telecom company was 
> an offshoot of SP's.)
>
>       - Paul 



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