The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-26

THE WHIRTON PATIENT R1TLROAD b SWITCH.
no appliances that can be devised viii make rail-
road travelling absolutely safe, and under the very
best auspices, and with the most perfect mechanical
cOntriyanccs there will always be something to fear
from the mistakes and neglect OF the most careful
employees and from those accidents to machinery
bridges and the roads themselves, against which no
fOrethOught can provide. 1t is certain however,
that am approximate degree of security can be OBJ
tanned, and the whole public, even more than the
railroad companies, is Interested in every contrv-
anCe. that will tend to diminish the liability to ace-
dent. more perfect discipline is being introduced
rapidly on most of the great roads Of the country
and the ingenuity Of engineers is taxed to invent
such appliances as will prevent any Ill
consequences from human negligence aud the
result is that railroad Travelling Is being. too gra-
dually II Is true relieved of many of its most UNI
pleasant features The weak parts on railroads are
the switches. II is through the displacement OF
these that the great majority of accidents occur and
consequently the attention of railroad men has been
particularly directed to them, with view of diminish
ing far practicable the causes of danger. Manv
contliyances have been tried that possess nnuch
merit certain points, but tat always fall some
thing short of Perfection. A large number of acct
dents occur every year at railroad switches that do
not reach the ear of the public and they are con-
slant source Of dread to the engineers and others
VINO KNOW tD'iT danger, and who are obliged to run
costtlt .Isks Of life and limb from them The great
desl" eratum is q switch that will be, to certain
: extent at least, automatic in its action, which
cannot get out of order, and that
| cannot he left in such a condition throupl,
neglect or intention, to risk the safety of an adj
vancng train All these conditions seem to be fulfilled
! by WhaItOns patent railroad safety switch which
was yesterday subjected to a great number OF very
severe tests in the presence Of number OF repre-
scnatNcs Of the press, railroad men, and Others on
the Pennsylvania Railroad and the West Chester
in Nfastp alt.l,
Of this switch is that on 4 double track railroad it
leaves the main track open under all possible condi-
tions for an advancing train, and it is impossible Ia
go upon siding except by backing. The construc-
ton and action Of the switch are very simple, and
yet il is impossible to give an intelligent description
OF its operation in words it, Is sufficient to say that II
was subjected 10 every test that the ingenuity of the
persons present could devise, even to taking
It. 10 pieces. II the switch is set wrong
the first wheel Of the advancing lOcomotiv,
throws itmto its proper position again. and it is az
impOsSiblty that the train should leave the nlall
, track under any circumstances.
, ON single track road, Of course, q somewha
| different arrangement is necessary, ana there th
switch is 30 contriyed that it must always remain sc
for the main track except when is in the hands
the operator, thai il is impossible for him throug
amy negligence TO misplace it. The locomotive eng
, | neers, who are irst-ratc critics about matter
this kind, express the utmost confidence in this In
VentiOn; and il has already proved its utility b
preventing several accidents on.the railroads wher
: II is in operation. A number Of these switches ar
in use on the PENNSYLVANIA, the Reading, and til
4 Baltimore Roads, ana during the past year the
n have fully demonstrated their utility and safet
! They also have the merit Of saving wear and tet
in the track and the wheels and aXles Of cars an
/, locomotives, and in passing over them no jar an
n shock are fetas in the of the switch in commo
# use. This improved switch is the invention OF NJ
n Thomas Wharton Jr, who has labored assiduOus
+ 10 perfect 1t in every particular, and he appears
: 10 have accomplished all that could be desired.