IRSE Sept 08.indd
IRSE Sept 08.indd IRSE Sept 08.indd
Rail Signalling Design Engineers Work on multi-disciplinary projects across Australia Join one of the largest Rail consulting teams in Melbourne, Victoria Be Inspired. Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) is a long established, employee-owned professional consulting organisation with offices in major business centres across the globe. We have significant resources, financial standing and technical capability, and are on track to meeting our goal of becoming a global top-ten privately-owned firm within the next five years. In Melbourne, Victoria, SKM is well-known for having one of the largest and most established multi-disciplinary Rail consultancies. As an industry recognised centre of excellence for rail signalling design engineering, we service a range of clients both locally and across Australia. With considerable work on the horizon, we are looking to expand our team of consulting engineers to include further specialist expertise in managing and delivering our current program of exciting signalling design projects. The scope of the work will range from the provision of concept and detail designs, specifications, cost estimates and technical recommendations for the construction, testing and commissioning of signalling infrastructure. As a signalling design professional, there is also the opportunity to consult on specific areas of expertise including train control systems, interlocking, automatic signalling and level crossing protection. www.skmconsulting.com We are keen to receive applications from design engineers at practitioner through to senior level in this specialised area. To be considered, you will have experience in signalling design, hold tertiary qualifications in Electrical or Electronic Engineering and either currently hold, or be eligible for, IRSE design licensing. We’re not only offering the technical challenge that will keep you inspired, we’re also offering ongoing supported professional development, market competitive salaries and an impressive range of broader benefits. Relocation assistance is available to Australian residents currently based outside Melbourne, Victoria, as is Visa Sponsorship to interested applicants currently based overseas. For a confidential discussion, please call Corey Leuders from our People Team +61 3 9248 3046. To find out more about living and working in Melbourne, Victoria, please visit http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au To find out more about SKM or to apply directly through our website, please visit http://www.skmconsulting.com/careers/currentCareerOpp.htm FRONT COVER: Main Picture: Bangkok Skytrain. There are no Platform Edge Doors (PEDs) on the Skytrain, instead a more manual method of stopping people getting too close to the arriving trains is used - a man with a very loud whistle stands on the platform looking along the yellow line. Photo: J Poré
IRSE NEWS is published monthly by the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE). The IRSE is not as a body responsible for the opinions expressed in IRSE NEWS. © Copyright 2008, IRSE. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the permission in writing of the publisher. Copying of articles is not permitted except for personal and internal use. Multiple copying of the content of this publication without permission is always illegal. Editor Ian J Allison 31 Bainbridge Road, Loughborough, LE11 2LE. Mobile: +44 (0) 7891 067350 e-mail: irsenews@btinternet.com Assistant Editor A J R Rowbotham 36 Burston Drive, Park Street, St Albans, Herts. AL2 2HP e-mail: irsenews@aol.com Contributions Articles of a newsworthy or technical nature are always welcome for IRSE NEWS. Members should forward their contributions to one of the Editors shown above. Advertising For details of advertising rates and deadlines call Christopher Bean at Ten Alps Publishing Tel: +44 (0)20 7878 2415 Fax: +44 (0)20 7379 7118 e-mail: Chris.Bean@tenalpspublishing.com Advertisements are accepted on the basis that the advertiser and agency (if any) warrant that the advertisement contents are true and correct in all respects. London Office IRSE, 4 th Floor, 1 Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London, SW1H 9JJ, UK Enquiries MEMBERSHIP OR OF A GENERAL NATURE Tel: +44 (0)20 7808 1180 Fax: +44 (0)20 7808 1196 e-mail: hq@irse.org PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Tel: +44 (0)20 7808 1186 e-mail: training@irse.org LICENSING Tel: +44 (0)20 7808 1190 e-mail: licensing@irse.org Web Site For up to date information about the Institution or its activities, or to download a membership application form, log on to the IRSE Web Site at: www.irse.org Production Institution of Railway Signal Engineers Stuart Angill, Production Manager Printing/Mailing Fericon, Reading Documenting the Past and the Current for the Future Welcome back to IRSE NEWS following our short summer break. From now on there will be eleven issues each year, reflecting an ever-growing popularity and flow of articles. Thank you to all our contributors - keep up the good work During a recent night shift on the UK West Coast Main Line, I worked out that I had been working in the railway industry for 21 years that weekend! I then thought about how technology had changed during that time and, more importantly, about the people who trained, assisted, mentored and befriended me along the way . When I started on the railways, everybody at each location knew and understood about the equipment under their care and responsibility, and ensured youngsters obtained this information with the elders holding informal training sessions during the lunch hour each day in the mess room or the relay room. Whilst I am sure this type mentorship still takes place and that there have been great advances in the training and assessment methods within the railway industry over the years, the little tricks of the trade or particular quirks of the differing types of equipment do not necessarily get passed on. Speaking from experience, these “Technical Tips” can sometime make all the difference between completing the job in a timely manner or staying there all night! Therefore please, please send in your “Technical Tips” for inclusion in our regular feature. If you are retired from the profession, now is your chance to make all the difference for the new generation of S&T Engineers, by telling us all about the in’s and out’s of those items of equipment that caused you all those headaches and problems in the past. We particularly request the same information and pictures regarding S&T equipment from all around the world. I am getting fed up with producing it all myself and why should we re-invent the wheel when the information is already out there and known! Finally, we have been surprised how few “A Day in the Life of…” articles have been received to date. S&T jobs are now more varied than ever. This feature allows you to tell the rest of the membership what you do in the S&T industry around the world and I hope employers will encourage and support their staff to contribute to this feature. Ian J Allison, Editor In this Issue ... Page Trends in modern mass-transit train control 2 International Technical Committee Industry News 8 West Meets East - Thailand Convention Report 9 Ian Bridges Personality Profile - Alan Fisher 14 Robin Nelson End of an Era on the Taff 16 Jim Gibson Thailand Convention Pictures 18 A Day in the Life of…… The IRSE Administration Manager 20 Linda Mogford Curiosity Corner 21 IRSE Matters Wing Award 22 The Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme 23 IRSE Younger Members Examination Workshop 25 Australian Section Technical Conference - Delivering Efficiencies 27 Section News from Manchester, Texas and West Somerset 30 New Membership Application Form for non-UK applicants 30 Feedback 33 Membership Matters 34 Obituaries Jack Ellis and Peter Lane 35 Recruitment inside front cover and 36 IRSE NEWS Issue 137 September 2008 1
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- Page 17 and 18: PERSONALITY PROFILE changing name o
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- Page 39 and 40: RECRUITMENT To advertise call Chris
<strong>IRSE</strong> NEWS is published monthly by the Institution of<br />
Railway Signal Engineers (<strong>IRSE</strong>). The <strong>IRSE</strong> is not as a body<br />
responsible for the opinions expressed in <strong>IRSE</strong> NEWS.<br />
© Copyright 2008, <strong>IRSE</strong>. All rights reserved.<br />
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a<br />
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means<br />
without the permission in writing of the publisher. Copying<br />
of articles is not permitted except for personal and internal<br />
use. Multiple copying of the content of this publication<br />
without permission is always illegal.<br />
Editor<br />
Ian J Allison<br />
31 Bainbridge Road, Loughborough, LE11 2LE.<br />
Mobile: +44 (0) 7891 067350<br />
e-mail: irsenews@btinternet.com<br />
Assistant Editor<br />
A J R Rowbotham<br />
36 Burston Drive, Park Street, St Albans, Herts. AL2 2HP<br />
e-mail: irsenews@aol.com<br />
Contributions<br />
Articles of a newsworthy or technical nature are always<br />
welcome for <strong>IRSE</strong> NEWS. Members should forward their<br />
contributions to one of the Editors shown above.<br />
Advertising<br />
For details of advertising rates and deadlines call<br />
Christopher Bean at Ten Alps Publishing<br />
Tel: +44 (0)20 7878 2415 Fax: +44 (0)20 7379 7118<br />
e-mail: Chris.Bean@tenalpspublishing.com<br />
Advertisements are accepted on the basis that the<br />
advertiser and agency (if any) warrant that the<br />
advertisement contents are true and correct in all respects.<br />
London Office<br />
<strong>IRSE</strong>, 4 th Floor, 1 Birdcage Walk,<br />
Westminster, London, SW1H 9JJ, UK<br />
Enquiries<br />
MEMBERSHIP OR OF A GENERAL NATURE<br />
Tel: +44 (0)20 7808 1180 Fax: +44 (0)20 7808 1196<br />
e-mail: hq@irse.org<br />
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT<br />
Tel: +44 (0)20 7808 1186 e-mail: training@irse.org<br />
LICENSING<br />
Tel: +44 (0)20 7808 1190 e-mail: licensing@irse.org<br />
Web Site<br />
For up to date information about the Institution or its<br />
activities, or to download a membership application form,<br />
log on to the <strong>IRSE</strong> Web Site at: www.irse.org<br />
Production<br />
Institution of Railway Signal Engineers<br />
Stuart Angill, Production Manager<br />
Printing/Mailing<br />
Fericon, Reading<br />
Documenting the Past and the Current for the Future<br />
Welcome back to <strong>IRSE</strong> NEWS following our short summer break. From now on there will<br />
be eleven issues each year, reflecting an ever-growing popularity and flow of articles.<br />
Thank you to all our contributors - keep up the good work<br />
During a recent night shift on the UK West Coast Main Line, I worked out that I had<br />
been working in the railway industry for 21 years that weekend! I then thought about<br />
how technology had changed during that time and, more importantly, about the people<br />
who trained, assisted, mentored and befriended me along the way .<br />
When I started on the railways, everybody at each location knew and understood<br />
about the equipment under their care and responsibility, and ensured youngsters<br />
obtained this information with the elders holding informal training sessions during the<br />
lunch hour each day in the mess room or the relay room.<br />
Whilst I am sure this type mentorship still takes place and that there have been<br />
great advances in the training and assessment methods within the railway industry over<br />
the years, the little tricks of the trade or particular quirks of the differing types of<br />
equipment do not necessarily get passed on. Speaking from experience, these<br />
“Technical Tips” can sometime make all the difference between completing the job in a<br />
timely manner or staying there all night!<br />
Therefore please, please send in your “Technical Tips” for inclusion in our regular<br />
feature. If you are retired from the profession, now is your chance to make all the<br />
difference for the new generation of S&T Engineers, by telling us all about the in’s and<br />
out’s of those items of equipment that caused you all those headaches and problems in<br />
the past. We particularly request the same information and pictures regarding S&T<br />
equipment from all around the world. I am getting fed up with producing it all myself<br />
and why should we re-invent the wheel when the information is already out there and<br />
known!<br />
Finally, we have been surprised how few “A Day in the Life of…” articles have been<br />
received to date. S&T jobs are now more varied than ever. This feature allows you to<br />
tell the rest of the membership what you do in the S&T industry around the world and I<br />
hope employers will encourage and support their staff to contribute to this feature.<br />
Ian J Allison, Editor<br />
In this Issue ...<br />
Page<br />
Trends in modern mass-transit train control 2<br />
International Technical Committee<br />
Industry News 8<br />
West Meets East - Thailand Convention Report 9<br />
Ian Bridges<br />
Personality Profile - Alan Fisher 14<br />
Robin Nelson<br />
End of an Era on the Taff 16<br />
Jim Gibson<br />
Thailand Convention Pictures 18<br />
A Day in the Life of…… The <strong>IRSE</strong> Administration Manager 20<br />
Linda Mogford<br />
Curiosity Corner 21<br />
<strong>IRSE</strong> Matters Wing Award 22<br />
The Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme 23<br />
<strong>IRSE</strong> Younger Members Examination Workshop 25<br />
Australian Section Technical Conference - Delivering Efficiencies 27<br />
Section News from Manchester, Texas and West Somerset 30<br />
New Membership Application Form for non-UK applicants 30<br />
Feedback 33<br />
Membership Matters 34<br />
Obituaries Jack Ellis and Peter Lane 35<br />
Recruitment inside front cover and 36<br />
<strong>IRSE</strong><br />
NEWS<br />
Issue 137 <strong>Sept</strong>ember 2008 1
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