Wikipedia talk:WikiProject UK Railways/Archive 5

message: ray me far so la te do... ahem...
Do you think this project needs a to-do list? Simply south 13:56, 28 June 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  If I may build on that remark, and if a recent arrival might make a observation, I think there is a need to get on and do something, and if a to-do list would help, yes. There seems to be an enormous amount of work that needs to be done that has been found by the robot. It's surely important for the credibility of this group to reduce that volume. Every time an outsider comes here and reads "Citation needed" or the like, that weakens the likelihood that they will ever come back to Wikipedia Afterbrunel 16:53, 28 June 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: My time using and editing Wikipedia is a bit limited at the moment, particularly as I am part way through a house move, and am very busy with work - however I would welcome the addition of a "to do" list.  I will gladly help out in whatever way I can.  I am still new to Wikipedia and perhaps lack the confidence to do a lot of editing etc, however would gladly help out with assessing articles etc, which I presume is done against the set of criteria established for this project?  I think all I need is a little guidance in where and on what my time would be best focussed to assist the project.  Again I would imagine that this is more likely to be reviewing existing content than creating new articles?ColourSarge 18:17, 21 July 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Have had a stab at re-writing the introductory paragraph to the main page for this project as per the request from Geof Sheppard in the task list.  Much of it has been copied from WikiProject Physics as I thought that was a particularly good intro - if anyone else can do better feel free to have a stab yourself...ColourSarge 12:01, 24 August 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Do 

message: Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway is in need of a route-map, if anyone feels inclined. Andy Mabbett | Talk to Andy Mabbett 13:39, 3 August 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway 

message: Pages with lists of coordinates, marked-up using , can now be exported as KML (for use in Google Earth or NASA World Wind, for example) via Brian Suda's site, in this format:
:http://suda.co.uk/projects/microformats/geo/get-geo.php?type=kml&uri=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherton_Tunnel_Branch_Canal
The same URL can be pasted into Google Maps as a search string, and will show the locations, as push-pins on a map
(I requested a template which will generate such links, for any page on which it appears. The template  was created - and promptly nominated for deletion!) Andy Mabbett | Talk to Andy Mabbett 13:42, 3 August 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Export points of interest as KML; see them on Google Maps (coordinates revisited) 

message: What is a tripcock braking system? Simply south 09:19, 12 August 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: This is a safety device used on the London Underground before the current automatic systems came in. A tripcock, with a lever hanging down , would be mounted on the front bogie of a train. A piece of lineside equipment called a trainstop would have a T piece, raised when the relevant signal was in the On (Danger) position, A train passing the signal at danger would cause the tripcock to come into contact with the trainstop and cause a full emergency application of the braking systems on the train. See Train stop Britmax 00:06, 13 August 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  Would it be worht making a stub out of Tripcock then ? Or is it this Moorgate tube crash#Moorgate control Pickle 17:23, 14 August 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Tripcock 

message: I've put up a number of UK transport-related stub types for renaming, rescoping and/or deletion;  a number of ad hoc renamings and creations have left this hierarchy in a very inconsistent state, please comment, and help resolve, one way or the other.  See Stub types for deletion/Log/2007/August/20.  Alai 22:20, 20 August 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  UK transport/rapid transit-related stub types 

message: * Green - █ #5bac26
* Yellow - █ #fabb00
any additions to the above would be welcome (i've left out Northern Ireland and Ireland for now), and when we're done i'll copy this grand list over to Template talk:Rail line where a vauge list already exists. thanks in advance Pickle 07:25, 11 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Tyne and Wear Metro 

message: Another question for you fine folks (its been one of those weeks!). On the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway what infoboxes should we be using for the stations. Technically the current usage of  is wrong as it cites National rail in the standard display. Do we have either a) some sort of heritage rail station infobox for heritage and other type stations (like the RHDR) or b) can we have some sort of switch statement that "turns off" the national rail link. ??? Pickle 04:16, 15 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Have a look at Rhyd Ddu railway station, specifically this edit when the previous infobox for heritage railway station was substituted for the standard UK infobox. This previous infobox has now been deleted. I had previously put the Heritage station infobox in last August. I call not find at present the discussion that resulted in the Heritage template being deleted. --Stewart (talk) 06:37, 15 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  Ahh thats what i was thinking of. Can Slambo (as an admin - or anyone else similarly qualified) view it from the deletion logs ? Pickle 07:25, 15 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  station infoboxes 

message: I have put this up for WP:RM but with moveoptions. See Talk:London railway station#2007 requested move. Simply south 10:54, 15 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  London railway station move 

message: On maps I would like the opinion of this project on weather they should be included on templates. My opinion is only the name of the station or tunnel or junction should and no distance or historic information etc should be included either. Also when talking about distance of tracks and distance of stations form a main terminus shouldn't it primarily be in the metric system as the UK officially uses the metric system and all other train articles (bar USA) are in the metric system. many thanks--Lucy-marie 16:15, 20 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Distances are useful and informative.  You are expressing a POV, which is frowned on in WP. The fact is that the UK is NOT a metric country when it comes to distances.  Road signs quote distances in miles, and speed limits are also given in miles per hour.  The railways in the UK also based distances on miles.  The sub-division of miles used by the railway is primarily chains, but yards and feet are also is regular use.  The reason for having distance information on the maps is because they are diagrammatic and not to scale.  Hence having the distance information gives a reader a clearer idea of how far things are apart, which is not always evident on the map.  I note that Lucy-marie is "under 25" and seems to think that wikipedia should satisfy this group of people alone.  The fact is that people of all ages read wikipedia, and some (myself included) like to see distances on the maps.  The uses of miles/chains for the UK railways is based on the fact that that is the measurement system used!!Canterberry 16:25, 20 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Lucy, you expressed a POV in the wrong way by removing the distances WITHOUT prior discussion. Also, you clearly have not spoken to anyone in the railway industry.  I have worked for the railways in the UK for 18 years, and I can tell you that miles/chains are the "standard" for track.  The only exception is the overhead electrification. Also, the UK is not a metric country by any stretch of the imagination.  When you are old enough to enter a public house, try ordering a "litre of beer" ... the  landlord and the rest of the pub will enjoy a real laugh at your expense.Canterberry 16:56, 20 September 2007 (UTC)

text: The UK primarily does not use the metric system especially regarding transport.  In some areas, the metric system is more often used.  Most schools teach in metric units supposedly so that the UK can increase the use of the metric system in the future. Tbo 157(talk) (review) 17:35, 20 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  The issue with Lucy-marie is becoming a nuisance. Enough people have stated that the UK transport industry (roads and railways) uses miles rather than kilometres.  She may not like it, but that it is a clear fact, and is supported by more editors than support her view in regard of metric units.  The point now is that there is more support for the use of miles, and Lucy must now accept this, else her edits must now be considered vandalism, as she is clearly in a minority on this issue.Canterberry 17:41, 20 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: FWIW, railway distances (except on the single High Speed Line) are expressly not signed in metric measurements - check the mileposts along your local railway line. As I've said before, I do think it makes sense to give metric measurements as well as miles/chains to make comparison with foreign routes easier, but miles should definitely be the primary unit. Incidentally, the idea that "Britain became metric when it joined the EEC" is a complete myth; the EU has no power to impose this without unanimous consent of all 27 governments (including Britain), which has (obviously) never been given, and the official EU policy (restated less than two weeks ago) is "There is not now and never will be any requirement to drop imperial measurements". While Lucy-marie's changing this may have started off in good faith, to carry on doing so now she is aware that it is against both clear consensus and WP policy, is beginning to border on disrupting Wikipedia to make a point and I'd urge her to stop, as if it continues it may well end in a block. —  iridescent (talk to me!) 17:49, 20 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: As for the EEC and metrification in the UK, as you say the EEC had nothing to do with the UK going over to a decimal system, indeed the decimal currency pre dates the UK membership of the EEC (now EU) by some five years whilst the decision was taken two years previous to that - when Charles De Gaulle was still saying his famous "non" to the UK's wish to joint the EEC. (SouthernElectric 15:26, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

text:  Lucy (and your possible sock-puppet Jjamesj) should be aware that WP runs on consensus.  This means that where there is a clear majority of editors in favour of a point, then then everyone must go  along with that decision.  Reading through all the posts on this and other pages (East Coastway Line & West Coastway Line), there is clear support for the use of imperial values for railways and transport in general. Your point about the use of the metric system has been made, but the view is that we stick with miles (and chains and yards and feet) for railway distances.  You continued arguing will not change this "consensus" view, and is now becoming disruptive.  More time is being spent arguing this point that doing actual productive edits.Canterberry 18:09, 20 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  I have been looking at the contributions of Jjamesj and Lucy-marie and I note a pattern of behaviour that is exactly what I would expect from a sock-puppet.  They have both made edits to other articles on the same day (Crossrail, Yearbook, East Coastway Line, est Coastway Line) and supported each other in order to make a point (classic puppet behaviour).  Do other editor agree with my assessment that there is enough evidence to make a report under Wikipedia:Suspected sock puppets?Canterberry 18:28, 20 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Already reported here —  iridescent (talk to me!) 18:35, 20 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Distances on maps and in general 

message: This has been listed above as an important article. Does this mean junctions with no station, or just junctions (Named places where lines meet? Britmax 21:05, 28 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: UK Railway Junctions