THE COMPUTER-CONTROLLED SPLITTING OF TRAINS AT SEELZE, MANNHEIM AND MASCHEN MARSHALLING YARDS OF THE GERMAN FEDERAL RAILWAY

In 1969/70 and 1971/72, respectively, the marshalling yards at Seelze (west-to-east system) and Mannheim (east-to-west system) were equipped with devices for the automatic splitting of trains. The new marshalling yard at Maschen south of Hamburg is at present under construction and is being equipped with two large computer-controlled hump installations and an operating system with a network transmitting advance information of all operating processes in the marshalling yard. Computer-controlled humping operation was commenced at the Sellze yard in 1970 and at the Mannheim yard in 1972, and has been gradually extended to cover the entire train splitting process. A Siemens 304 process computer with appropriate peripheral equipment controls the routes and speeds of humped wagons (Seelze) in accordance with the train splitting data obtained from the higher-level operating computer system. The computer commands act directly on the switches, on the two groups of retarders and on the conveyor installations in the sorting sidings. Later, the computer will also control the speed of the radio-controlled hump locomotives, a system which is at present in preparation. The computer reacts automatically to all failures and irregularities. The automation has led to an increase in the capacity of the yard, to an improvement in the quality of marshalling operations, and to a saving of labor for train splitting operations.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Railroad Cybernetics, AAR/UIC/IRCA, 21-26 April 1974, Washington, D.C.
• Corporate Authors:

  International Union of Railways

  14 rue Jean Rey
  75015 Paris,   France 
• Authors:
  • Delpy, A
• Publication Date: 1974-4

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: 10 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computers; Control systems; Hump yards; Railroad terminals; Railroad yards; Signaling
• Identifier Terms: Deutsche Bahn; Deutsche Bundesbahn
• Old TRIS Terms: Yard and terminal control
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Freight Transportation; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00053806
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: International Union of Railways
• Report/Paper Numbers: Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 17 1974 12:00AM