Strange/unusual/rare destinations programmed in the PIS

[Kite159]

I get the feeling that PIS manufacturers make it as difficult as possible to try and make most companies rely on the PIS company doing all the updates.

And charge an arm & a leg if the operator wants to get more PIS codes added into the system (ie change of calling pattern due to a new station etc)

 

[LickeyIncliner]

And charge an arm & a leg if the operator wants to get more PIS codes added into the system (ie change of calling pattern due to a new station etc)

I wonder how many arms and legs LNER paid to have "Ferme Park Reception Sidings" on the Azuma PIS? (Sorry, my attempt to get a photo of this failed completely - but it was a train on Platform 1 at Kings Cross, a year or so ago.)

 

[M60lad]

Probably not strange but earlier this week I was going past Northern's Dean Lane Depot and a 156 was stabled at the side of CAF shed with Merry Christmas on the destination (A bit early I know) . Not sure what TrainFX if fitted would have been showing unless what's on destination is not connected to TrainFX system.

 

[Thomas04]

I have seen a 185 displaying Derby at Cleethorpes on Boxing Day 2025
Picture below

 

[TheHovisKid]

Probably not strange but earlier this week I was going past Northern's Dean Lane Depot and a 156 was stabled at the side of CAF shed with Merry Christmas on the destination (A bit early I know) . Not sure what TrainFX if fitted would have been showing unless what's on destination is not connected to TrainFX system.

I saw that on a 158 at Lancaster yesterday

 

[Scotrail344Lad]

I saw that on a 158 at Lancaster yesterday

Bit early

 

[BuhSnarf]

Bit early

Or late.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I have a class 117 DMU mounted blind box at home (gifted when I left North London Rlys) , so I can amuse myself by putting up various destinations (not always served though - such as Ealing Broadway) , quite like Camden Road or Euston. There is a "catch all" of "Special"

 

[318266]

Had they been planning it as an open system, using open APIs you wouldn't have these limitations... They made a cost based choice to choose old hardware.

I enjoy the developers of roughly the year 2000 manufacturing the PIS for the ScotRail Class 170s (for example) making a cost based choice to use hardware of roughly the year... 2000.

Clearly, these people were intentionally making their system outdated and incompatible to justify more expensive ongoing maintenance costs.

 

[BuhSnarf]

I enjoy the developers of roughly the year 2000 manufacturing the PIS for the ScotRail Class 170s (for example) making a cost based choice to use hardware of roughly the year... 2000.

Clearly, these people were intentionally making their system outdated and incompatible to justify more expensive ongoing maintenance costs.

Of course, for those that were built in 2000 they'll use kit from the 2000s, but there are plenty of examples of new kit using outdated hardware - for example new PIS systems for buses which does not have over the air capability, does not have sufficient memory to hold all stops and using poor quality visual kit that fails reguarly.

 

[lokiavivson]

I saw a GWR 158 displaying Twyford the other day!

 

[MarlowDonkey]

I saw a GWR 158 displaying Twyford the other day!

In theory perhaps it could find its way to Reading and run the Twyford to Henley shuttle.

 

[Stephen98]

I forget the FX code but on GWR you can get it to scroll internally once "you should not be on this train".

It was 999 something I think, but disappeared along with Not in Service after the update which caused codes with request stops to list off every request stop on the network and the ability to change for buses to Cribbs Causeway due to a collision at a level crossing!