American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-11
How Trains Are Disposed OF.

A New York correspondent of the Tro,
Times recently visited the signal office a
the Grand Central Depot in New York
and thus tells how 40 trains of cars art
received and dispatched every day:
This is little room at the northern
entrance Of the depot, about thirty fee1
above the pavement. 1t is reached by g
narrow passageway from the west side
| Looking down the depot there was space
of more than 600 feet extent by 200 feet
breadth, covered with an iron roof and
lighted from the top. Trains of cars were
coming and going necessarily; but no
confusion was perceptible and everything
| as my friend said, went on like clock.
| work. There were two operators in ser
vice here, relieving each other during a
tour of duty which extends from five a.
m. to eleven at night, their motions being
regulated by large and costly clock.
The gentleman in charge received us very
politely; but before we had hardly
thanked him we heard the sharp and rapid
ring of q bell overhead. 1t was marked
'Ninety-sixth to Seventy-fifth street.
You see said the operator, there's a
train coming in, and it wants to know if
we are ready for it, But how does it
ring that bell" BY electricity was the
reply. In few minutes another bell
rang. 1t was marked Sixty first to
Fifty sixth street. The train now
reports itself again. said the operator;
and this renews notice either to prepare
for it or to signal it to STOP He
touched a Geographic machine, and then
said: This throws up the signal to come
in And sure enough, in q few minutes
the train arrived. One hundred and forty
trains arrive and depart in day, includ-
ing the Central Hudson, the Harlem and
the New Haven Roads, and hence the sig
nal 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 pas
senger 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 l want to
know if the baggage is taken OUT He
touched stop and rang bell las he said)
900 feet distant In a moment a bell over
head struck twice. Baggage is OUT he
said, otherwise he would have struck
once, and would have waited. I must
order the train ont. Do you see the loco
motive just ahead? Well. now see it
letter z displayed at q window in side
building. He hears a bell ring, also,'
said the operator. The engine backed
down and hitched to the empty train and
the q disappeared. Il shall now send
him out said the operator, as he touched
another stop; and the empty train at once
moved forward and left the depot. The
letters x YZQ 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. |
al am now about to send out pas
senger train,' continued the operator. A |
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 first l
must stop checking baggage A small
knob was touched by his finger. Now
wait for another train. There (another |
touch with the finger, the baggage car is
hauled out and switched on to the right
Here goes the close-the- door bell IA
touch); no one passes in after this. Now
[ say: "All aboard!" ia tOuch), and we
hear the distant voice of the conductor
echoing through the vaulted roof Now
il moves (anOther touch. and the rumb-
ing motion was Immediately perceptible,
and in a few moments the train left the
lepot. As the cars go up the road they
,ignal their progress by ringing bells in
his same Office until they have got
through the city streets, and thus give as
'urance of a clear track for all that may
ollow. The depot will contain twelve
rains Of thirteen cars each, and by means
o this wonderful system they are all
managed with dispatch and safety"