What is this? Altona, Australia.

[kevinlms]

 

Someone has asked as to the function of this, I suspect it is a sensor to detect a train.

 

Any clues as to it's proper function?

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

I'd be looking out for Wile E. Coyote!

 

Mike.

[SHMD]

Is it a "load" so that the occupancy detector can detect that the circuit is working even if a train is no "shorting" the rails together?

Think of it as a resister and that the occupancy detector can detect 1/ an "open circuit" - a fault, 2/ an "unoccupied circuit" - line clear, and 3/ a "short circuit" - a train or line occupied.

 

Of course, it makes more sense if it is actually a capacitor (providing impedance) so that it works with AC electric - of a frequency that does not correspond with "mains" frequencies (and their derivatives).

 

Just my speculation as I don't work in the rail industry.

 

 

Kev.

 

[kevinlms]

21 minutes ago, SHMD said:

Is it a "load" so that the occupancy detector can detect that the circuit is working even if a train is no "shorting" the rails together?

Think of it as a resister and that the occupancy detector can detect 1/ an "open circuit" - a fault, 2/ an "unoccupied circuit" - line clear, and 3/ a "short circuit" - a train or line occupied.

 

Of course, it makes more sense if it is actually a capacitor (providing impedance) so that it works with AC electric - of a frequency that does not correspond with "mains" frequencies (and their derivatives).

 

Just my speculation as I don't work in the rail industry.

 

 

Kev.

 

I don't know much about it, but 100% it's nothing to do with AC electrics as the trains run off 1500 volts DC.

[SHMD]

32 minutes ago, kevinlms said:

I don't know much about it, but 100% it's nothing to do with AC electrics as the trains run off 1500 volts DC.

 

Not AC "Traction" power/supply, or transmission, but simple interference rejection of the domestic 50Hz supplies when operating "sensors" remotely from the signalling system/network.

 

I also wonder if it might just be a simple "spark gap" used to protect the occupancy circuits if AC traction supplies are present and fault to the rails.

 

 

Kev.