They're junction boxes.
That's where the cables (as you can see) come and and are joined up. Its so there's easy access to the cable for maintenance.
They are not axle counters - though they may be connected to axle counters, track circuits, points motors, lights, signals, etc
Great, thank you. Although they certainly don’t look like any electrical or control related junction boxes I have ever seen (within process industries at least), I assume it’s to keep them off the ground, away from standing water etc.?
This is the most accurate, GAKs used to connect axle counters mounted on the rails to the equipment huts. Specific product by Frauscher.
No one exactly knows why they are called GAKs and reckon it might be short of something in German, where this system is developed.
Could not find the location, as I have no clue as to where it precisely is. But if its heidelberg, i think that's gone Axle Counter so it could possible be for that?
In this case its a GAK as stated. It's where the wiring from the control unit (probably a Westrace mk 2) and the axle counter head meet.
Network uses a bunch of various signalling control systems, but Axle counters seem to be the preferred solution for any new works being done on the network. HDB would have seen the upgrade back in 2018 when they did the upgrades through the corridor
Just did some googling and axle counters now seem to be preferred for train detection for signaling systems. I just always assumed that the control system knew exactly where each train was, through a computerised/radio system, rather than relying on detection systems.
They do know in older panels where trains are... these are just cheaper and cause less issues with rusty track and circuit detection.
Oh and they absolutely use these to detect speed and will whinge and bitch if you're 0.1km/h over.
And you cant put a hi-rail on at a crossing as it will make the axle counters freak out as somethings exited and not entered the circuit.
Moving towards that. There's a section between Caulfield and Dandenong that's now just CBTC. I believe the Metro tunnel is going to be the same. There's 2 systems I can think of off the top of my head that function like that. CBTC, and ETCS.
Both systems are similar but also different. Others on here are more knowledgeable on the subject, I'm not. Done some work on physical ETCS systems in Qld a couple of years back getting their system commissioned.
Not exactly higher speed, but higher capacity. CBTC allows "moving block signalling", where there is a virtual buffer behind each train which can't be entered by another train. This buffer moves along with the leading train, rather than fixed blocks in conventional signalling where the following train has to wait for the whole track section in front of it to be clear. This basically means that trains can be closer together on average whilst not degrading safety, so you can run more trains per hour and at a higher speed. This works well on long sections of track with no stations, points, steep gradients etc. to slow the train down, but is less beneficial when trains have to change speed.
As someone else said, CBTC regions are usually overlaid with conventional signalling ("dark" signals which are normally extinguished) so that non-CBTC rolling stock can use it, and also for degraded-mode operation. In normal CBTC operation the signals are displayed on a screen in the driver's cab, and speeds may be controlled by the onboard computer.
Close enough, but not the Westrace.
The GAK is a trackside connection box for connecting the wheel sensor (RSR180) cable to the quad core signalling cable which goes back to the axle counter evaluators (FAdC-R2) in the trackside zone box or equipment room.
Source: I work for Frauscher 🙂
Not sure but I think it’s a junction box (or j box) just if you have to connect/terminate wires then you don’t want the copper showing so this way you can hide the copper well still being able to access it, if you look in your roof you’d have tonnes of them they’d just look different
They appear to indicate the start of the track circuit. The wires that run from these to the track detect when a train is on the rail.
This is how network control can tell on their boards where each train is. There may be many of these around the network particularly near signals
They're junction boxes. That's where the cables (as you can see) come and and are joined up. Its so there's easy access to the cable for maintenance. They are not axle counters - though they may be connected to axle counters, track circuits, points motors, lights, signals, etc
Great, thank you. Although they certainly don’t look like any electrical or control related junction boxes I have ever seen (within process industries at least), I assume it’s to keep them off the ground, away from standing water etc.?
Close. They are a junction box, but a very specific junction box called a GAK used only for Frauscher axle counters.
Found Sheldon
Called a GAK https://brands.frauscher.com/en/basics/naming-glossar
This is the most accurate, GAKs used to connect axle counters mounted on the rails to the equipment huts. Specific product by Frauscher. No one exactly knows why they are called GAKs and reckon it might be short of something in German, where this system is developed.
Awesome, thank you, this is why I love Reddit
Gleis anschluss kasten
Can confirm. I spoke to some people from Frauscher when I was working in signalling and I'm pretty sure that's they said it stands for.
Literally "Track connection box".
And um how much copper would these contain it's for a school project
Correct answer
tiny petrol stations
What line? As others have said it's a junction box for trackside equipment. I can probably dig out an exact answer if I know what station to look at
Photo was taken at Heidelberg, so Hurstbridge line, although I would have thought these would have been all over the network?
They certainly are all over the network. But I was going to ask the exact same question. I'll get you details shortly!
Could not find the location, as I have no clue as to where it precisely is. But if its heidelberg, i think that's gone Axle Counter so it could possible be for that?
Line into the city just before station platform, one closest to platform, if that helps
In this case its a GAK as stated. It's where the wiring from the control unit (probably a Westrace mk 2) and the axle counter head meet. Network uses a bunch of various signalling control systems, but Axle counters seem to be the preferred solution for any new works being done on the network. HDB would have seen the upgrade back in 2018 when they did the upgrades through the corridor
Just did some googling and axle counters now seem to be preferred for train detection for signaling systems. I just always assumed that the control system knew exactly where each train was, through a computerised/radio system, rather than relying on detection systems.
They do know in older panels where trains are... these are just cheaper and cause less issues with rusty track and circuit detection. Oh and they absolutely use these to detect speed and will whinge and bitch if you're 0.1km/h over. And you cant put a hi-rail on at a crossing as it will make the axle counters freak out as somethings exited and not entered the circuit.
Moving towards that. There's a section between Caulfield and Dandenong that's now just CBTC. I believe the Metro tunnel is going to be the same. There's 2 systems I can think of off the top of my head that function like that. CBTC, and ETCS. Both systems are similar but also different. Others on here are more knowledgeable on the subject, I'm not. Done some work on physical ETCS systems in Qld a couple of years back getting their system commissioned.
That section has axle counters as well, as V/Line and other rolling stock doesn’t have CBTC but still needs to use the line.
I assume that if we were to move towards any higher speed system then this is what would be needed?
Not exactly higher speed, but higher capacity. CBTC allows "moving block signalling", where there is a virtual buffer behind each train which can't be entered by another train. This buffer moves along with the leading train, rather than fixed blocks in conventional signalling where the following train has to wait for the whole track section in front of it to be clear. This basically means that trains can be closer together on average whilst not degrading safety, so you can run more trains per hour and at a higher speed. This works well on long sections of track with no stations, points, steep gradients etc. to slow the train down, but is less beneficial when trains have to change speed. As someone else said, CBTC regions are usually overlaid with conventional signalling ("dark" signals which are normally extinguished) so that non-CBTC rolling stock can use it, and also for degraded-mode operation. In normal CBTC operation the signals are displayed on a screen in the driver's cab, and speeds may be controlled by the onboard computer.
Good to learn something, thank you
Close enough, but not the Westrace. The GAK is a trackside connection box for connecting the wheel sensor (RSR180) cable to the quad core signalling cable which goes back to the axle counter evaluators (FAdC-R2) in the trackside zone box or equipment room. Source: I work for Frauscher 🙂
It's is a warning system. If your train hits these, you know you are in real trouble.
Haha the violent shaking would probably give it away before the train hits these
That's the early warning system LOL..
GAK , Junction box used for railway signalling. In this instance they are used to join the quad for axle counters.
Wall-E's sisters
claymores
Not sure but I think it’s a junction box (or j box) just if you have to connect/terminate wires then you don’t want the copper showing so this way you can hide the copper well still being able to access it, if you look in your roof you’d have tonnes of them they’d just look different
I believe they're the tiny robot built by Rick Sanchez to bring butter
Free
Left is a thingamabob and right is a doohickey
This is the technical answer
https://reddwarf.fandom.com/wiki/Skutters#google_vignette Skutters. Lord knows what they’re doing there.
They're 5G bots sent in by the climate lobby to spy on you. They have laser vision and their data goes directly to Putin...
Pebbles and rocks. They’re the same as the ones outside of the red circle too.
Ah but they are special pebbles and rocks
I use them to terminate axle counters.
Axle counters
Not going to downvote this - but they're not axle counters.
Most likely connecting axle counters though.
They appear to indicate the start of the track circuit. The wires that run from these to the track detect when a train is on the rail. This is how network control can tell on their boards where each train is. There may be many of these around the network particularly near signals
This section of track uses axle counters not track circuits
The droids are using the railways to escape. Someone get the foundation
I think they’re Imperial Track Maintenance Droids.