B.R.S. Teleprinters Give National Link
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A70-LINE two-position teleprinter switchboard, in service at the main British Road Services London teleprinter centre, is equipped for broadcasting to 40 stations. This allows simultaneous countrywide contact to he made. The broadcast control keys are colour-coded to facilitate rapid selection of the type of link-up required—yellow for " all division," green for "all district" and so on.
In normal circumstances, B.R.S. employ the broadcast facility on a fixed time basis to minimize interruption of the normal flow of operations messages. The broadcast panel is used to give four daily broadcasts: at 10.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to all divisions and districts reporting details of important route,: which are impassable or dangerous. and to all divisions only at 12 noon and 2 p.m.
Special broadcasts can, however, • he set up on demand for matters of urgency. Extensive use was made of this facility at the time of the East Coast floods and during the strike of fueltanker drivers in the -London area.
As an illustration of the value of the service, a report was received in February via the B.R.S. radio-telephone system operating in Liverpool Docks that no more cargo could be accommodated at the quayside for a steamer that had been delayed by gales. A teleprinter message was flashed to all divisions simultaneously to hold further deliveries until the revised loading schedule of the ship had been decided. and in this way congestion at the receiving depots in Liver-I-x.1°1 and costly delay to trunk vehicles and transhipments were avoided.