Potential Means of Cost Reduction in Grade Crossing Motorist-Warning Control Equipment : Volume 2. Comparison of Solid State and Relay Devices and Techniques

PDFTech ReportDOT-TSC-FRA-76-21-IIFRA/ORD-77/45.IIControl devicesCost estimatingElectric circuitsElectronic controlElectronic controllersEstimatesFail safe systemsGrade crossing protection systemsMaintainabilityRailroad transportationRelays (Electricity)ReliabilitySignal devicesSolid state devicesTransient analyzersWarning systemsUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Railroad AdministrationHolmstrom, F. RossJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, (U.S.)University of Massachusetts at LowellUnited States. Federal Railroad AdministrationAGR-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITYNTL-ECONOMICS AND FINANCE-Rail Economics and FinanceNTL-ECONOMICS AND FINANCE-ECONOMICS AND FINANCENTL-ECONOMICS AND FINANCE-Economic ImpactsNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-RAIL TRANSPORTATIONNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail Economics and FinanceNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail SafetyNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Railroad Highway Grade CrossingsVolpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterConsideration is given to the properties of solid-state circuits, miniature relays and large gravity-operated relays when applied to control systems for grade crossings equipped with train-activated motorist warnings. Factors discussed include original cost and service-life cost, vulnerability to environment, reliability and fail-safety, power requirements, maintainability, complexity of tasks to be performed and economic scale