From shoskins@ix.netcom.com Thu Mar 30 22:51:55 2000 Xref: news.spc.edu nyc.transit:78400 Path: news.spc.edu!news.new-york.net!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.gtei.net!firehose.mindspring.com!not-for-mail From: Steve Hoskins Newsgroups: nyc.transit Subject: Re: Emergency brake alarm Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 22:06:44 GMT Organization: MindSpring Enterprises Lines: 27 Message-ID: <8c0kjn$n9m$1@slb6.atl.mindspring.net> References: <8btubl$qkm$1@panix2.panix.com> <8buenq$18i$1@slb7.atl.mindspring.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: a5.79.74.4b X-Server-Date: 30 Mar 2000 22:31:19 GMT X-Newsreader: NETCOMplete/4.0 In article , Terry Kennedy wrote: >Steve Hoskins writes: >> That solution is exactly what we drivers do in transit buses when the >> electronic destination signs start reading out weird. A couple good, >> hard hits to the hatch hiding the guts of the sign system usually does >> it quite well. > > I don't know if they're still using these displays, but some years ago >the buses used Ferranti displays which used magnetic flip discs with one >matte black side and one fluorescent yellow side. > > I was examining a replacement display that had just arrived at the bus >garage (in the original Ferranti box) and stenciled on the side of the >box was the following text: > > Ferranti model bus destination sign assembly > Not intended for use in mobile applications > > I guess they're only supposed to be used on permanently-broken-down bus >applications? 8-} I pointed that same sticker out to a Ferranti-Packard display salesman at a transit expo a few years back. His face turned about the shade of red on NYCTA R-33 subway cars and he muttered a few "Uhs" and "Hmmmmms" but nothing else came out!!!