One of life's many unanswered questions!

The Line Controller was asking for the train numbers to make sure that the T/D was working correctly. If the T/D doesn't work right and trains get the wrong ones, the programme machines will route incorrectly and things will go up the wall.

Maybe this should be in a seperate thread (and I or someone will do just that if we get too technical!) but just a quick query about the Connect radio...

I have seen a photograph of the radio panel which we drivers will have in the cab, and sure enough there's a button for 'signaller'. Now, will that automatically connect to the correct signaller wherever we are?

For example, While I'm being held at OB31, when I press that button, will it connect me to Baker Street, then automatically switch to ECT when I arrive in Tower Hill?

Thanks for explaining that to me its appreciated but -

Why does the Controller have to make the call to the drivers in the first place because surely the Signalmen can ring the platform at Tower Hill and Earls court & get an S.A. to observe the numbers and relay it back to him Ive seen that a lot lately as well.

I'm sure the Controller has other things to do and i have been told by one of the Controllers that some of the Controllers refuse to do this for the Signalmen and now what with the overtime being cut at EC and the Controllers having to work a full shift well that just adds friction doesn't it .

There was a [very brief] experiment in the sixties with track loops on the Northern and District called 'Positive train Identification' It was so-so in sucess I beleive. There was also an idea that was never implemented where they were going to put keypads on the platforms an timing points like Tower Hill upon which a driver would key in his train number and send same to the signaller. Dunno what happened to that.

Could possibly be looking for train compos for fleet maintenance if an expected train has failed to appear in depot.The Bakerloo controller was always doing it for Stonebridge Pk.

PTI was first trialled on the District in late 60's early 70's,they used the Edgware Rd-Wimbledon service there was a practically permanent timetable alteration in the TC due to this,probably to get the train fitted with the equipment stabled in the right place each night.

at parsons green everything is still there for the PTI to work but as the D stock is not compatible it has been taken out of commission.

the programme machine will only route a wrong train if its in FCFS mode and has the wrong t/d if the machine was in programme only and the train came along either with the wrong train number or the wrong t/d the machine will not route the train at all but the signalman gets about a 20sec warning that it is out of concidence (train not matching the machine) so it should give him time to put the machine into push button or FCFS to route the train

There were some other early attempts to trial PTI on the Northern Line. Some time in the early to mid-sixties some trains were fitted with a semi-flexible black plastic sheet about 18"x9" (size from memory - I did hold one once a long time ago). This had three strange hand-made symbols stuck onto it that looked like some sort of alien writing. I was told that the symbols represented a train number in a form that a machine could read. The numbers were not changable and the sheet was apparently for test purposes only. I never saw these fitted, but believe that they were put onto a side window.
Then around 1966/7, rolling stock started to be fitted with number plate holders on the cabside door. The plates for these were of the conventional flip-over type but made of rigid black plastic with yellow numbers. A notice was given to train crews that these would be tested from a particular date and that they would be read by a trackside machine inside the tunnel just advanced of the headwall at (I think) Charing Cross - maybe a search of the traffic circulars will give the details. Crews were asked to set front and side numbers from that date.
The big day came and went and no trackside equipment appeared. A revised date was set and that also passed without event. Good experiment?

Just an out of the blue suggestion. I wonder if the same system air traffic control uses would work with LUL. Fit trains with transponders and every time a train enters service it would be issued with a transponder code unique to that train. It could be then tracked wherever it is. Just a thought.......

That is a good idea but I think the problems will be solved with the fitting of the GPS doodahs.

Yes, the GPS won't work, even in the sub-surface tunnels - the refurbed D stocks have proved that.