A Conversation for The Quite Interesting Society
QI - If it still works, use it!
gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA Posted Mar 2, 2010
Getting closer!
Post 33 Keith. Yes, it is something to do with when a train leaves a station.
Post 34, Taff. Not a clock.
Post 35, tzin. Not IF!!
Post 36. hd. Stops 2 trains being on the same stretch of track. Correct! +3..
Post 37. sf! Nothing to do with emergencies. This device prevents them!!!
Post 38 ekky. Not smoke or steam engines.
QI - If it still works, use it!
gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA Posted Mar 2, 2010
Post 39 hygenicdispenser!!
Boy, oh boy, oh boy!!!!
You have hit the nail right on the head there. The machine produces a token that has to be given to the driver before he can leave the station, to go onto a stretch of single track line! The driver has to surrender the token down the line, so that the signalman could send a message further down the track that the single line section was now clear!!!
Could not have put it better myself!!
Correct answer, +3
Nothing to do with albatrosses though!!! These are metal tokens.
The machine is technically known as "Neal's Single Line Ball Token Block Instrument', but I could not have called it that up to now
Now. Where could you find it still in use today???
GT
QI - If it still works, use it!
Taff Agent of kaos Posted Mar 2, 2010
buckingham steam railway centre
quainton, bucks??????
QI - If it still works, use it!
gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA Posted Mar 2, 2010
In the UK Taff?????
He hit another one!!!!
-5
GT
QI - If it still works, use it!
Taff Agent of kaos Posted Mar 2, 2010
canada
austrailia
india
russia
QI - If it still works, use it!
gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA Posted Mar 2, 2010
How do you do it Taff?????
Australia
Canada
Russia
India. Correct, +3
Can anyone say where in India for extra points???
GT
QI - If it still works, use it!
gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA Posted Mar 2, 2010
My source says elsewhere, though it could be used anywhere, I suppose!
We will stay with the one I know it it still used, even after a century of use.....
GT
QI - If it still works, use it!
hygienicdispenser Posted Mar 2, 2010
Up towards the Himalayas somewhere?
And are you quite sure about the albatross?
QI - If it still works, use it!
Argon0 (50 and feeling it - back for a bit) Posted Mar 2, 2010
Remember seeing this (or something VERY similar) in a documentary about a highlands Steam railway line - possibly the Jacobite line (?) - which connected a small fishing village with "civilisation". IIRC it wasn't strictly speaking necessary as they only had one locomotive on the line....
On the other hand in India - is it near Mumbai/Bombay?
QI - If it still works, use it!
pebblederook-The old guy wearing surfer beads- what does he think he looks like? Posted Mar 2, 2010
How about Darjeeling? Don't mind if I do 
QI - If it still works, use it!
Teasswill Posted Mar 2, 2010
It's the kalka-shimla railway - saw it on BBC last week.
QI - If it still works, use it!
gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA Posted Mar 2, 2010
Post 49 hygenicsispenser No
Posts 50 and 51 Sorry chaps, no
Post 52 teaswill Correct, +3!
Will write up and do the scoring shortly
GT
QI - If it still works, use it!
gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA Posted Mar 2, 2010
Easiest way for me to explain thi is to point you towards my source!!
G to bbc.co.uk, scrolldown, and look at the right hand side. You will see a choice. Select BBC4.
At the top of the next window, select programme.
In the next window, select letter 'I'.
Select Indian Hill Railways.
Select Kalka-Shimla Railway.
Watch, and enjoy. You will see 'Neal's Machine' in operation!
GT
Scores to follow
QI - If it still works, use it!
Old Buffer Posted Mar 2, 2010
This 'token ring' system was later adapted (and even adopted by IBM I believe) and used as the basis for early computer networking.
Fascinating QI. 
Key: Complain about this post
QI - If it still works, use it!
- 41: gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA (Mar 2, 2010)
- 42: gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA (Mar 2, 2010)
- 43: Taff Agent of kaos (Mar 2, 2010)
- 44: gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA (Mar 2, 2010)
- 45: Taff Agent of kaos (Mar 2, 2010)
- 46: gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA (Mar 2, 2010)
- 47: Taff Agent of kaos (Mar 2, 2010)
- 48: gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA (Mar 2, 2010)
- 49: hygienicdispenser (Mar 2, 2010)
- 50: Argon0 (50 and feeling it - back for a bit) (Mar 2, 2010)
- 51: pebblederook-The old guy wearing surfer beads- what does he think he looks like? (Mar 2, 2010)
- 52: Teasswill (Mar 2, 2010)
- 53: gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA (Mar 2, 2010)
- 54: gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA (Mar 2, 2010)
- 55: Old Buffer (Mar 2, 2010)
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