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Arranging railway timetables, 1908
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Arranging railway timetables, 1908
An ingenious system of threads used by railway timetable planners to secure the perfect working of a great railway system in 1909. This was achieved by stretching threads across a board. Each section of the board from top to bottom represents one hour, and hose spaces were subdivided by thinner lines representing five minutes. The horizontal divisions represented the distances between the stations. A thread was stretched from the starting-point of the train to its destination, and the points where the threads intersected the ruled lines showed the time of the arrival of the trains at stations. It was essential that no two threads should cross. Crossings are avoided by carrying the thread horizontally along the sections equivalent to five minutes, and each horizontal deviation means tat the train must stop for a time equal to the number of minute-spaces it covers on the board. Perhaps something to be considered by current rail company timetable compilers? Date: 1909
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Media ID 23087332
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Clockwork Complicated Maze Network Plan Planning Running Sep18 Thread Timetable Timetables Trains
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This photograph offers a glimpse into the intricate world of railway timetable planning in 1908. In this image, we see a dedicated team of planners meticulously arranging threads on a large board to ensure the seamless operation of a vast railway system. Each section of the board represents one hour, with thinner lines subdividing the spaces into five-minute intervals. The horizontal divisions represent the distances between stations. To plan the arrival and departure times of trains at each station, planners would stretch a thread from the starting point of a train to its destination. The points where the threads intersected the ruled lines indicated the time of arrival at the corresponding station. To avoid crossings and ensure that no two threads interfered with each other, planners carried threads horizontally along the sections equivalent to five minutes whenever possible. Each horizontal deviation meant that a train would have to stop for a duration equal to the number of minute-spaces it covered on the board. This ingenious system, which dates back to 1909, required great attention to detail and a deep understanding of the railway network. The planners' goal was to create a schedule that minimized delays and maximized efficiency, ensuring that trains arrived at their destinations on time. The intricacy and complexity of the thread system are a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of the railway planners of the past. Today, as we rely on advanced technology for our transportation needs, it's fascinating to reflect on the manual methods that once governed the railway system.
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