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You could retrofit a more modern computer in there. Probably even reverse engineer the radio system and replace it. This would have been done by an enthusiast

You could retrofit a more modern computer in there. Probably even reverse engineer the radio system and replace it. This would have been done by an enthusiastic high school student with both programming, electronics, maybe some RF knowledge too. Radio amateur? I find these stories kind of sad. Clever system built by someone talented, at a low cost -- replacement with a modern system costed in the millions. Those talented people still exist but they wouldn't get a look in with most RFPs.

anthk 3y ago
Ask a GNURadio hacker and it can debug the issue in minutes.
NovaDudely 3y ago
Here is Melbourne, Australia our train system used to run on I believe a PDP based system established in 1982 until the mid 2000's when they started a transition to an all new system simply because the hardware was getting too old to maintain. The intermediate step was to emulate the old systems software on Windows XP machines until all the other signal systems could be upgraded. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112040545/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/30yearold-railway-computers-take-a-byte-out-of-the-past-20131014-2vitp.html https://web.archive.org/web/20201112040545/https://www.smh.c...
WWLink 3y ago
Yea, schools today don't encourage kids to screw around with computers.
cududa 3y ago
Sure but what happens when the student who figured it all out graduates?