Thursday, 29 September 2011

Look At The Big Number, Look, Look

big_number

Why that’s almost to the Moon and back.

Hold on,  40,000m is  40km  is  24.8 miles

Now I don’t know how much of South East’s network already has ‘conductor rail heating’ But I would imagine over the whole network an increase of 24 miles is a spit in a bucket.

I wonder why they didn’t go with  ‘and add 40,000,000mm of conductor rail heating’

Much like when they converted selling petrol by Gallons to Litres, If you turn it into Metric you can get away with any old bollocks.

Full story and glow sticks here

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6 comments:

  1. If they put the heated rail in strategic places I can't see the problem.

    (I'm a train driver btw)

    For example: the DC line Watford to Euston has slip/slide issues in only two locations - Hatch End, Headstone Lane ... perhaps between Watford and Bushey too.

    Barely 2% of the route I'd say but enough to cause total chaos.

    I cite this as just one example. I can offer many.

    20 trains with de-icers fitted spread throughout the network can be effective too.

    Glo sticks are used by the army and foil blankets can be carried on trains in large numbers in a small space. Remember also that there are no-win-no-fee lawyers to contend with too.

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  2. I suppose your contention is the use of metric. I suppose we purchase stuff from B&Q by the metre and people are used to it.

    If you don't think it's a lot then all I can say is try fitting a few metres !

    The next snow fall will be the acid test.

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  3. I'm not having a go at anybody here E-K, or if I am it is at the PR people

    The use of 40,000m is used purely to convey in most peoples minds subconsciously a huge distance it is disingenuous and meant to be so. Anything over 1000m should be referred to in km ( although sporting events tend to switch between the two)

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  4. Unless it means 40,000 miles?

    Problem is, the UK railway network is only about 10,000 miles long in total, but knowing government procurement practices, they'd be perfectly capable of ordering four times as much as is necessary and then paying extra to have the surplus taken away again.

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  5. My head's spinning with the mathematics of it all.

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