Trivia: Stations that still use CRTs for the information system

[joncombe]

I was surprised to find today that Sole Street in Kent still uses CRT monitors to provide the customer information system. I had assumed all such screens would have long since been replaced but it seems not. I assume this station is not an isolated case and there must be quite a few in Kent still using this system. I had plenty of time to admire it given the first train was cancelled and the second, an hour later, was delayed by 45 minutes.

So this set me wondering what other stations still have CRT monitors?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not seen any in a long time - indeed I've not seen any station with a display that wasn't one of the 3-line LED systems or one of the newer LCD ones for quite some time.

 

[Ianno87]

I think Angel Road still has one? Not much point changing it now...

 

[mde]

SouthEastern still have some... for now.

(image shows a CRT monitor displaying a service bound for Ramsgate, in a casing with the emblem "British Rail Computing" proudly emblazoned on it)

 

[BigCj34]

I think Ingatestone does.

 

[Malcolmffc]

Maryland still has them

 

[EM2]

Maryland still has them

As did Forest Gate when I was last there (but that was in 2016).

 

[iphone76]

Gidea Park (p3 and 4).

 

[LowLevel]

The only ones I've seen for years have been in East Anglia - I think there was an influx of installations there in the late 90s and early 2000s (one I saw had 'funded in partnership with Anglia Railways and Central Trains' stuck on it) so I presume they're comparatively new ones.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I'm sure I saw one towards the end of last year, but can't think for the life of me where it was... Alfreton maybe?

 

[laseandre]

The last place I remember seeing them is Prestwick Airport station, obviously because the airport operator didn't want to spring for fancy new LED ones...

 

[bobbyrail]

In their defence i would prefer CRT screens over sweet FA information screens anyday, just think of those in the sleeper thread who say that CS trains are not showing on the PIS on the highland route.

 

[Parallel]

Machynlleth has one, possibly two. Barmouth possibly still has one too.

 

[Bletchleyite]

In their defence i would prefer CRT screens over sweet FA information screens anyday, just think of those in the sleeper thread who say that CS trains are not showing on the PIS on the highland route.

I don't get why they don't show - they always used to show as a "domestic" train to Edinburgh at least.

 

[satisnek]

I'm really surprised that there are any still in use - they must be at least 15-20 years old, the tubes don't last forever (especially when run 24/7) and spares are surely no longer available by now?

Could any of them be replacement flat screens in an old CRT cabinet?

 

[Ken H]

not railway but still CRT screens in bus shelters in Bradford. There is one on Leeds road in Thornbury

 

[Malcolmffc]

I'm really surprised that there are any still in use - they must be at least 15-20 years old, the tubes don't last forever (especially when run 24/7) and spares are surely no longer available by now?

Could any of them be replacement flat screens in an old CRT cabinet?

If there’s one thing the railway specialises in, it is continued use of obsolete technology for decades after everyone else has stopped using it

 

[Bletchleyite]

If there’s one thing the railway specialises in, it is continued use of obsolete technology for decades after everyone else has stopped using it

The airline industry too, largely because of the safety implications of changing anything.

Aren't they now the biggest (near enough only) user of continuous-feed dot-matrix printers for load sheets etc?

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Still see a few around South London in the old Connex yellow. I know there was two on the fast line platforms at Balham until they installed Anne a few months ago.

 

[Ken H]

The airline industry too, largely because of the safety implications of changing anything.

Aren't they now the biggest (near enough only) user of continuous-feed dot-matrix printers for load sheets etc?

you are supposed to use a dot matrix printer for printing continuous stationery cheques. Its possible to remove laser print from the paper without leaving much of a mark.
But who uses cheques? Er. my client gets a load. usually 4 bundles 4 inches thick are sent to the bank each day.

 

[mark-h]

Till roll dot matrix (impact) printers are still used in catering as thermal paper goes black when exposed to heat.

------

Are CRT displays still made?

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I'm sure Barnham in West Sussex still has the old Network South East CRT screens still, last time I saw them was in 2016. There's probably quite a few left on the NSE network which could well be going strong in 2019!

 

[Bungle965]

Lingwood had them a year or two ago from my recollection no idea if they've gone now or not.
Holyhead also has a couple.
Sam

 

[pdeaves]

I'm sure Barnham in West Sussex still has the old Network South East CRT screens still, last time I saw them was in 2016. There's probably quite a few left on the NSE network which could well be going strong in 2019!

By May 2018 there were no CRT screens as far as i can tell. Loads and loads of orange LED screens all over the place. The casings did not look particularly new but that may be an illusion or they may have been reused from elsewhere.

 

[K.o.R]

It's been a long time since I've been there, but I recall Warminster had some CRT screens visible through the window of the waiting room.

 

[route:oxford]

In their defence i would prefer CRT screens over sweet FA information screens anyday, just think of those in the sleeper thread who say that CS trains are not showing on the PIS on the highland route.

There's a separate CS unit for the Sleepers though isn't there?

I'm sure I've seen one at Dunblane or Stirling?

 

[route:oxford]

The last place I remember seeing them is Prestwick Airport station, obviously because the airport operator didn't want to spring for fancy new LED ones...

Prestwick Airport was nationalised by the Scottish Goverment back in 2013.

 

[route:oxford]

you are supposed to use a dot matrix printer for printing continuous stationery cheques. Its possible to remove laser print from the paper without leaving much of a mark.
But who uses cheques? Er. my client gets a load. usually 4 bundles 4 inches thick are sent to the bank each day.

Indeed, nice bit of clear plastic eg a thick punched filing sleeve, charge up the static with a duster, adhibit it to the laser printed document, leave it somewhere warm under something perfectly flat and heavy for 24 hours, then rip it off quickly like a waxing strip on your intimate bits.

Works on any laser printed document.

 

[Trainfan344]

Wymondham and Thetford I think still have them.

 

[Parallel]

It's been a long time since I've been there, but I recall Warminster had some CRT screens visible through the window of the waiting room.

To my knowledge, not anymore. There was also one through the window of a waiting room at Bradford on Avon, and one on each platform at Trowbridge but they’ve all gone now.