Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-05-21
A Railroad Signal Office.
AN HauR AT THE GRAND CENTRAL
DEPOT, AT New YoRK.

tue northern entrance OF the depot
about thirty feet above the pavement.
1t is reached by narrow passage way
from the west side, and when you get
into it you see sight which made
Jones go into an unmistakable surprise.
Looking down the depot there was a.
space more than 600 feet extent by
200 feet bredth, covered with an iron
roof and lighted from the top. Trains
of cars were coming and going incess-
antly, but no confusion was pereeptible,
and everything, as my friend said,
event on like clock work" There are
two operators in service here, relieving
each other during tour of duty, which
extends from 5. A. NJ. to II at night,
their motions being regulated by a
large costly clock. TIE gentleman in
charge received US very politely, but
before we had hardly spoken to him
we heard the sharp and rapid ring of a
bell overhead. 1t was marked '.Nine-
ty-sixth to Seventy-tifth street. -
'You see, said the operator, there is
train coming in and it wants to know
if we are ready for Ii" ''But how
does it ring that bcll?' said Jones.
'sBy electricity was the reply. HThis
is Halls patent, which works like
charm" In a few minutes another
| bell rang. 1t was marked Sixty. first
to Fifty>sixth street" "The train now
reports itself again" said the operator,
sand he reneRrs notice either to pre-
pare for it or to signal it to stop. He
touched telegraph machine, and then
said, "'This throws up the signal to
come in" and sure enough, in 2 few
minutes the train arrived. One hum
dred and forty trains arrive and depart
in day, including the Central, Hudson,
the Harlem, and the New Haven
Roads, and hence the signal service is
one of incessant activity. The opera
tor then informed us that each road has
four starting bells Of different keys, all
of which were rung by him by means
Of electricity. Three started passeng-
er trains, and one ordered ont the cars
as soon as emptied. "You see," said
he, 'this train which has just come in.
The passengers are gone, and | want
to know if the baggage is taken out :"
He touched stop and rang bell
Gas he saidD 600 feet distant. In a
moment bell overhead struck twice
baggage is out" he said, '"otherwise
he would have waited. | must order
the train out. Do you see that loco
motive just ahead? Well, now, see it
move.'' He touched stop and saw
the letter z displayed at window in
side building. ''He hears bell ring,
also," said the operator The engine
backed down and hitched to tie empty
train and the Z disappeared. Il shall
now send him out" said the operator
as he touched another stop and the
empty train once more moved forward
and left the station. The letters X Y
Z q may add parenthetically) desig-
nate the locomotives of the Harlem,
Hudson River and New Haven Roads,
and are the signal to back down and
connect with trains.
II am now about to send out pass
senger train, continued the operator
ga half hour ago ] struck twice to open
the doors and let the passengers pass
from the sitting room to the cars
Now l shall soon close that very door,
but 1 must stop checking baggage"
A small knob was touched by bis fin
ger. 'Now," said he ''the next trunk
that comes must wait for another train.
There (another touch with the fnger)
the baggage car is hauled out and
switched on the right track. Five
minutes more and she is off. Here
goes the ''close of the door bell'' Cat a
touch) no one passes in after this
Now l say call aboard, Ga touch) and
we lear the distant voice Of the con.
ductor echoing through the vaulted
roof "Now it moves" (auother touch),
and the rulnbling movement was i'm
mediately perceptible, and in few
moments the train left the station AS
the cars go up the road they signal
their progress by ringing bells in the
same office until they have got through
the city. streets, and thus give assu-
rance of clear track for all that may
follow. The station will contain twelve
trains OF thirteen cars each and by
means of this wonderful system they
are managed with dispatch and safety.
Some people lose their temper upon
the least provocation. A young man
who was offensive TO the parents of
young lady on Wooster street was
caught there by the irate father Sun
day evening, and after being freely
cuffed on tic. side Of his head, was
deliberately kicked into the street
Gaining his feet as soon as possible, he
turned passion distorted face back at \
the old gentleman and sclea1ned