[game_the0ry]

The central clock dependency is cool, but I wonder is there were any problems with latency -- like does the centralized electrical impulse reach a train station 10km away and another one at 20km at the same time? Did they factor that in?

[bauruine]

Isn't that propagating with around the speed of light? Switzerland is only about 1 light ms wide so even if they only have one master clock instead of one per train station the latency should be negligible especially in the 1950s.

[madaxe_again]

I know the Swiss are known for punctuality and timekeeping, but I don’t think anyone is going to notice a 33μs delay to their train.

[bluGill]

The speed of light is copper wires is fast enough that you don't need to factor this in. At least not for human purposes.

[extraduder_ire]

Even if you did, I think the time it takes to move the second+minute hand from a stop is longer than the time it takes the signal to get there.