Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-02-20


The signal Office is a little room at the
northern entrance of the depot, about thirty
feet above the pavement. Il is reached by
A narrow passage-way from the west side'
and when you get into it you see SIGHT
which made Jones go into an unmistakaoie
surprise. Looking down the depot, there
was space of more than 600 feet extent by
200 feet breadth, covered with an iron root
and lighted from the top. Trains OF cars
were coming and going necessarily, but no
confusion was perceptible, and everything,
as nv friend said, Event on like clock
work" There are two operators in service
here, relieving each other during tour OF
duty, which extends from a. m. to IL at
night, their motions being regulated
by large and costly clock. The gen.
tlenan in charge received US very politely,
but before we had hardly thanked him we
heard the sharp and rapid ring Of a bell
overhead. 1t was marked "Ninety-sixth to
Seven ty-ffth street" 'You see, said the
opcrator, there is train coming in, and
it wants to know if We arc ready for it. "
but how does it ring that bell p said
Jones. by electricity" was the reply.
This is Halls patent, which works like a
charm In a few minutes another bell
rang. 1t was marked "Sixty-first to Fifty
sixth street, 1.-The tram now reports
itself again. said the operator, land this
renews notice either to prepare for 1t or to
signal it to stop. lie touched a Geographic
machine and then said, This throws up
the signal TO come in, - and sure enough,
in a few minutes the train arrived. One
hundred and forty trains arrive and depart
| in a day. including the Central Hudson, the
Harlem and the New Haven roads, and
hence the signal service is one of incessant
activity. The operator 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 passenger trains, and one ordered
out 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 las he
said) 600 feet distant In moment II bell
| overhead struck twice. Baggage is out,
| he said, " otherwise he would have struck
once, and | would have waited. | must
order the train out Do you see that loco
motive Just ahead? Well, now, see II
move" lie touched a stop and | saw the
letter i displayed at window IN u side
building. - lie hears a bell ring also.
said the operator. The engine backed
down aid hitched to the empty train and
the L disappeared " shall now send
him out" said the operator, as he touched
another stop, and the empty tram at once
moved forward and left the station. The
letters y w may add parenthetically)
designate the locomotives of the Harlem,
Hudson River and New Haven roads, and
are the signals to back down and connect
with trains.
lam now about to send out passenger
train" continued the OPERATOR" a half
hour ago struck twice to open the door:
and let the passengers pass from the sitting
room TO the ears. Now | shall soon clos,
that very door, but first must stop check
| Ing baggage" A small knob was touched
by his finger Now" said he. the mex
trunk that comes must wait for another
train. There (another touch with the fin
ger). the baggage car IS hauled oat anC
switched on to the right track. Five min
utes more and she is off Here goes th'
close the door bell (at a touch) no ont
passes in after this. Now | say all ab0arc
Ia touch), and we hear the distant voice o
the conductor echoing through the yaulte-
roof. Now it moves" (another touch)
and the rumbling movement was immediate
ly perceptible, and in few moments th'
train left the station. As the cars 90 "
the road they signal their progress by ring
ing bells in the same office until they hay'
got through the city streets, and thus Civ
assurance of clear track for all that ma,
follow. The station will contain twclv
trains Of thirteen cars each, and by mean
of this wonderful system they are all man
aged with despatch and safety