Indian Railway Codes and Manuals-Administration and Finance Code-Chapter- 6 (VI)

 


CHAPTER VI

ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING—GENERAL APPLICATION

601.  Introduction.—Mechanised data processing on the Indian Railways  can be  traced   back   to the twenties when punched card equipment was installed, on some Government and Company  Railways for the compilation of statistical data. Owing to phenomenal   rise in traffic in the two  decades  immediately  after independence, the resultant burden of documentation proved to be too heavy on the then existing machines. In the early sixties, the Railways had, therefore, to go in   for unit-record accounting machines which made it possible to operate an integral procedure for compilation of statistical data together with conducting internal checks on traffic earnings. In the course of a few years, however, the unit-record equipment proved to be tool slow and of limited  capacity. The further rise in traffic necessitated better controls over the voluminous data, and this together with the need for introducing better and faster Management Information Systems, called for improved data processing equipment.    Accordingly, the Railways decided to go in for the second generation computers which were installed during the period between   1966-1970 (see Annexure—A).

602.  Description of a Computer  System.—Any Computer  System consists   of  a set of programmes and equipment designed to process data.

603.  Hardware.—The physical equipment in a computer system, also called the Hardware, consists  of (a) central processing unit, (b) storage, (c) input devices and (d) output devices.

(a)  Central Processing Unit.—The Central Processing Unit is the controlling centre of a system.   It has two parts (i) the arithmetic/logic unit, (ii) the control section . The arithmetic/logic unit performs operation like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division  and  comparing, etc.  The  control  section   monitors  and coordinates the entire system including control on input/output devices and transferring data to and from storage.

(b)  Storage.—'Storage consists of a number of instantaneously accessible locations where  instructions and data being processed are stored.

(c)  Input and Output Devices.—.The functions of placing data into the system and recovering data from the system are performed by input/output devices   attached  to the  system.    Some of the  commonly  used input devices (commonly known sl/O devices) are

(i) Card Reader.—Information from source documents is transcribed into cards by a machine called card punch. This source information represented by presence or absence of holes in different columns of a card is read   into storage   by the card reader as the card passes through this machine.

(ii) Paper Tape Reader.—.The paper tape reader serves the same purpose of reading data punched along the length of a paper atpe as a card reader for punched cards. On the Indian Railways data of broad gauge wagon movement is received presently on paper tapes from various yards over a network of tele-communication channels

(iii) Magnetic Tape Drive.—'Magnetic tape is one of the principal input/output medium of recording data. Information is recorded on a magnetic tape as magnetized spots called bits. The machine that can read, or write on , a magnetic tape is called a magnetic tape drive.

(iv) Disc Drive.—'Disc Drive can read and write data on magnetic discs. This input/output device gives the facility of random access to data in a computer system.

(v) Line Printer.—This machine is like an extraordinarily fast typewriter attached to the computer Final output reports are printed through this machine by the computer system.

604.  Programme.—Each   operation   in any   computer  system is  performed   by   an  instruction.   The instruction  defines a basic operation  to  be  performed and  identified the  data and  the  device needed to carry out the operation.   The complete set of instructions to carry out a required job is called a programme. This is also known as the Software, i.e., set of instructions to make the Hardware do the required job.

605.  Definitions.—Some of the common terms used in connection with the description of any computer installation and its application, are defined below :

(I) Program.—-A series of instructions set out in sequence which are required to be executed by or   on the computer to complete a job.

(a)  Source Program.-—These are instructions as written by the Programmer in the ' Programming language '

(b)  Object Program.—These are instructions converted into machine language from the source program.

(2.) Programming language.—These are   developed to enable the Programmer to write his  instructions in a language which corresponds closely to a natural language or algebraic language.

To illustrate :—

(i) Fortran.—(Formula Translation) is a mathematical language and enables the Programmer t© write his instructions in an algebraic format.

(ii) Cobol.—(Common Business Oriented Language) used basically for commercial purposes, enables the programmer to write his instructions in the normal English language.

(iii) Autacoder.—A programming language to work with I. B. M. 1401 machines.

(3)  Systems Analysis.—The  examination  of an activity,  procedure, method,  technique  or a business to determine as to how the necessary operations may best be accomplished to attain a given objective.

(4)  Bit.—(i) An abbreviation of binary digit,   (2) A single character in a binary number,   (3)   A single pulse in a group of pulses,   (4) A unit of information capacity of a storage device.

(5)  Byte.—A unit of information, 8 bits in length.

(6)  Audit Trail.—A system of providing a means for   tracing items of data from processing step to step, particularly from , machine produced report or other machine output back to the original source data.

(7)  Validity Check.—A check based upon known limits   or upon given information or computer results ; e.g., a calendar month will not be numbered greater than 12,   and a week will not have more than 168 hours.

(8)  File.—An organised collection of information directed toward some purpose, e. g., a deck of cards or records on a tape organised in accordance with requirements.

(9)  Access time.—Time required by a computer to locate and transfer data to and from storage.

(10)  Real time.--Computer operation simultaneous with input of information where the desired output is obtained ' here and now '.

(11) Digital Computer.—A computer that uses discrete numbers to represent information.

(12)  Analog Computer.—A physical or electrical simulator  which   products an   analogy of mathematical problems to be solved.

(13)  On-line.—-Directly connected to the computer, e. g., where a computer is being used to control, say an automatic machining operation in a factory.

(14)  Off-line.—Not directly connected to the computer.

(15)  Time sharing.—Use of a computer for more than one application at a time by  allocating   successive time slots to active applications.

(16)  Back-up.—'A comparable hardware available in case of failure of on-premises equipment.

THE MAIN APPLICATIONS

606. Freight Accounting and Statistics System.—This system covers revenue earning goods traffic only. The source documents for this system are copies of the Invoices which are collected from all goods booking stations on a railway .through couriers, for processing on the computer centrally. The data in respect of booking and receiving station, commodity, weight, rate, distance and whether the consignment is moving as smalls or in wagon load, etc., are captured on punched cards- This voluminous basic information is processed to meet almost all accounting requirements including apportionment of earnings between railways, in respect of traffic moving over more than one railway. In addition from the same information multifarious statistical reports like commodity-wise movement, leads of different types of traffic, etc., are also generated.

607. Passenger Accounting and Statistical System.—This system covers passenger traffic originating on printed card tickets. The source documents far this system are the " passenger classifications " received from the stations every month.   Apart from meeting the accounting requirements connected with passenger traffic earnings the system also supplies the whole range of passenger movement statistics like class-wise Passenger movements in different distance legs, etc.

608. Payroll Accounting.—The payroll application covers in its scope the regular staff (excluding running staff and gang men) and workshop staff. For the workshop staff the system includes preparation of incentive bonus bills. At present, the system does not include Provident Fund and Suspense Accounting though some 'installations have covered these aspects also to a limited extent.

609.  Inventory Control System.—As a first   step all stores stock items were brought under  a Unified Ceding structure under which each item of stores held in stock was identified  by   the same   code number on all railway basis. The system enables prompt and accurate stores accounting,   provides  financial information for control over material usage, and also produces action-oriented exception  reports including 'ABC analysis' position of surplus and over-stock items, etc. The system   helps in the planning and control of purchases  through order follow up and vendor performance reviews and automatic information for recoupment action.

610.  Operating Statistics.—from the "Trains Reports " details of engine and train movement, including fuel consumption during each run, are collected   on   punched   cards.     The system generates report   about section-wise movement of trains, fuel consumption, engine utilisation and  overage speeds of trains, etc.

611. Linking of Loco Coal dispatches with Receipts.—In this system each Railway links all loco wagons dispatched to home loco shes of a Railway with loco coal wagons actually received invariably throwing up some ' missing despatches 'and' unconnected receipts'. The missing dispatches and unconnected receipts as noticed on each Railway are then linked in a centralized ' run ' on an all-Railway basis to take care of all inter-railway diversions of Loco coo! wagons. Claims are lodged with the Commercial Department in respect of missing wagon, is which still remain untraced ,and necessary particulars are furnished to enable that Department to. trace such wagons.

612.   Production Control.—Production   Control is a major application in Railway Production   Units at Chittaranjan (C. L. W.), Varanasi (D. L. W.) and Perambur (I. C. F.).    Under this application material requirements as Well as scheduling of operations in production shops  is   automatically worked out  for  the  various components,   sub-assemblies and major assemblies for a given   batch  of locomotives/coaches.   Job  cards and route cards, etc., are printed on the computer.    Material planning and  capacity planning are   performed for different ranges of product-mix as and when required.

613.  Marshalling Yard at   Mughalsarai.—'Cards are punched at   Mugaalsarai in respect of all wagons arriving and leaving the yard.   The punched cards are processed on the computer at D. L. W.,  Varanasi.   The important outputs of the systems are

(i) Details of mis-marshalled loads.

(ii) Report on wagon detentions including, position   of wagons in sick lines and goods sheds ;  and (iii) Marshalling Yard Statistics.

 

614.  System in the Railway Board's Computer Centre.—In this system information  if collected via tele-printer lines of the movements of about 3,00,000  broad gauge wagons passing through all inter-change points and   certain important  selected yards.   The information is incorporated into a voluminous computer file to show the latest status and recent movements of each wagon.    Using this file reports are produced daily on wagon holdings and special fleet holdings   (e.g.  P.O.L tanks) At the end of the month, a list of monthly movements is printed and sent to railways.   (The system does   not as yet cover the movement of metre gauge wagons).                 

What was one of the first forms of mechanized data processing used on Indian Railways in the twenties?

A) Magnetic Tape Drive
B) Punch Card Equipment
C) Disc Drive
D) Line Printer

Answer: B) Punch Card Equipment


2. What prompted Indian Railways to upgrade to unit-record accounting machines in the early sixties?

A) Introduction of new trains
B) Increased traffic and the need for better data control
C) Development of new accounting software
D) The availability of new hardware

Answer: B) Increased traffic and the need for better data control


3. What are the main components of the hardware in a computer system as described in the text?

A) Software, Input Devices, Output Devices
B) Central Processing Unit, Storage, Input Devices, Output Devices
C) Input Devices, Storage, Software
D) Output Devices, Storage, Programming Languages

Answer: B) Central Processing Unit, Storage, Input Devices, Output Devices


4. What does the Central Processing Unit (CPU) consist of?

A) Input and Output Devices
B) Arithmetic/Logic Unit and Control Section
C) Magnetic Tape Drive and Disc Drive
D) Line Printer and Card Reader

Answer: B) Arithmetic/Logic Unit and Control Section


5. What is the primary purpose of a Card Reader in a computer system?

A) Writing data on magnetic tapes
B) Printing final output reports
C) Reading data punched in cards and transferring it to storage
D) Writing instructions in programming languages

Answer: C) Reading data punched in cards and transferring it to storage


6. Which programming language mentioned is used primarily for commercial purposes?

A) Fortran
B) Autacoder
C) Cobol
D) C++

Answer: C) Cobol


7. What does the term "Byte" refer to?

A) A single character in a binary number
B) A unit of information, 8 bits in length
C) A system of providing a means for tracing data
D) Time required to transfer data to and from storage

Answer: B) A unit of information, 8 bits in length


8. What does the "Freight Accounting and Statistics System" primarily handle?

A) Passenger traffic statistics
B) Revenue earning goods traffic
C) Payroll accounting
D) Inventory control

Answer: B) Revenue earning goods traffic


9. What type of information does the "Passenger Accounting and Statistical System" process?

A) Inventory control data
B) Engine and train movement details
C) Passenger traffic earnings and movement statistics
D) Production control for locomotives

Answer: C) Passenger traffic earnings and movement statistics


10. What is the purpose of the "Inventory Control System" mentioned in the text?

A) To generate reports on train fuel consumption
B) To monitor passenger traffic movements
C) To manage stores stock items and provide financial information for material usage control
D) To handle payroll accounting and incentive bonus bills

Answer: C) To manage stores stock items and provide financial information for material usage control

 

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