TOPS Information

[Legolash2o]

What sort of information does TOPS (Total Operations Processing System) contain about rolling stock? I.e. length, weight, brake force, others?

Thanks

 

[Highlandspring]

If you’re talking about E3 or J6 enquiries on locos and rolling stock respectively then yes it contains all that information and far more. Here’s an example of a J6 for an FKA wagon:

 

[Legolash2o]

Thanks for the info. Appreciated!

P.S. I've also added the definition of TOPS in the first post. Apologies.

 

[Highlandspring]

TOPS need to know a lot of information about each vehicle and locomotive registered on it so it can generate Train Lists. These are safety critical documents that provide information to drivers about length, weight, route availability, special handling characteristics, the presence of dangerous goods on a train etc... The system is pretty clever and will check, for example, if non-compatible vehicles have been marshalled together, if a vehicle is overweight for a route or if a dangerous goods load has not been put together appropriately. It uses vehicle information in the interface with various maintenance systems and specialist applications like ERIC (the container loading system). It is very dated and is showing its age these days but it’s still a very powerful system.

 

[ComUtoR]

stuff™

On that TOPS enquiry. If I'm reading it right (I know nothing about TOPS) Why would it show as RA1 RA2 and RA5 ? I sorta understand the RA1 and RA5 as it states No. of units 2 so I get that they may have different availability etc but then it states RA2

Cheers in advance.

 

[Terry Williams]

Perhaps this is not quite the place so i might get shot down in flames.

Any chance someone could do a J6 or even J6.1.1.1 inquiry on one each of the following Mk5 Sleepers please?
15001-15011 Brake Seated vehicle
15101-15110 Lounge Sleeper vehicle
15201-15214 PRM Sleeper vehicle
15301-15340 Standard Sleeper vehicle

MTIA and sincerest apologies if i'm 'out of order.'

 

[Highlandspring]

On that TOPS enquiry. If I'm reading it right (I know nothing about TOPS) Why would it show as RA1 RA3 and RA5 ? I sorta understand the RA1 and RA5 as it states No. of units 2 so I get that they may have different availability etc but then it states RA2.

In hindsight an FKA twin probably wasn’t the best vehicle to use as an example but it’s what I had immediately to hand. What that is twlling you is that the wagon is RA1 when in tare condition, RA5 when loaded to maximum possible weight and is running RA2 at the time of the enquiry. I could have a go at annotating it if that would be of any help?

 

[3973EXL]

On that TOPS enquiry. If I'm reading it right (I know nothing about TOPS) Why would it show as RA1 RA3 and RA5 ? I sorta understand the RA1 and RA5 as it states No. of units 2 so I get that they may have different availability etc but then it states RA2

Cheers in advance.

Tare weight (empty) 48.6T is RA1
Gloss (max GLW) 136.6T is RA5
Current Data (actually loaded to 105.6T) is RA2

RA route availability equates to axle load. Larger the RA, higher the axle weight.

 

[ComUtoR]

In hindsight an FKA twin probably wasn’t the best vehicle to use as an example but it’s what I had immediately to hand.

It was a great example because it showed the potential

Tare weight (empty) 48.6T is RA1
Gloss (max GLW) 136.6T is RA5
Current Data (actually loaded to 105.6T) is RA2

RA route availability equates to axle load. Larger the RA, higher the axle weight.

Both of you are awesome. XOXOX.

 

[LAX54]

TOPS is a 70's programme, that is still used today, one reason being there is not a lot, if anything that can beat it ! TOPS will tell you absolutely everything you need to know about a wagon, coach, loco, train formation, what the train is carrying, how long, how heavy, if there are any Dangerous goods and what they are.....
example for a loco


LOCOMOTIVE ENQUIRY RESPONSE


66704 EN ROUTE MNTSORREL TO WHITEMOOR ON xxxxxx DEP MNTSORREL 1714 29/04
NEXT DUE 'A' EXAM IN 17 CYCLE DAYS


66704 PBOROSDGB LM.R. M-GP'CR' BKE'AA' TN/HT'0' RA-7 STS'N' SPL/CH G OMO
CL.066/7 DGM 66-7AA WHL ARR.'F' 3300H.P. WT 127 TONNES IN SVC 01
LGTH 70 FT/21.3M MAX 075 MPH FUEL 1496 GAL BOILER 0000 GAL CHANNEL-TUNNEL 1
BRKE FCE 68 TONNES HT/INDX 000 MULTI-CNTL-7
LIVERY GB - GBRF NUMBER OF AXLES:6
REGISTRATION DETAILS: SAGB SWGBRF
MAINTENANCE CYCLE DAYS: 02639
NEXT EXAM 'A' DUE 02656 CYCLE DAYS NEXT MAJOR EXAM 'B' DUE 02712 CYCLE DAYS
LAST FUELLED 'F' AT BESCOTTMD 15 24/07 HRS RUN SINCE 000?
LAST 'A' EXAM PBOROSDGB 19/02 LAST MAJOR EXAM 'C' PBOROSDGB 15/04
LOCO POOL GBBT R/T NOS. 0475/0000

 

[3973EXL]

TOPS is a 70's programme, that is still used today, one reason being there is not a lot, if anything that can beat it ! TOPS will tell you absolutely everything you need to know about a wagon, coach, loco, train formation, what the train is carrying, how long, how heavy, if there are any Dangerous goods and what they are.....

Couple of points about TOPS;
It does not give a comprehensive list of dimensions or maintenance history, for example.
The changeable information is input by a human. It can be wrong.

 

[LAX54]

Couple of points about TOPS;
It does not give a comprehensive list of dimensions or maintenance history, for example.
The changeable information is input by a human. It can be wrong.

Well, it gives the length of most vehicles and as for info input by human, that applies to 90% of I.T ...info only as good as the person that input it in the first place

 

[3973EXL]

...info only as good as the person that input it in the first place

and the person reporting the information.

It is a dangerous assumption that "TOPS will tell you absolutely everything you need to know". I've seen too many incidents of people not checking a piece of paper with reality.

Put another way, On the Railway it is a safety critical tool, not a trainspotting aid.

 

[Highlandspring]

Put another way, On the Railway it is a safety critical tool, not a trainspotting aid.

Absolutely. Although it leans more towards ERIC this RAIB report illustrates the pitfalls of failing to understand the safety implications of the information in the IT systems we use every day -

https://assets.publishing.service.g...915d4c0d000187/R212009_090812_Basingstoke.pdf

 

[Legolash2o]

I could have a go at annotating it if that would be of any help?

That would be great. Thank you.

 

[Highlandspring]

I’ve sent you a PM...