Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
A RAILROAD SIGNAL OFFICE.
An Hour i'm the Grand Central Depot
in New York.
Letter to the Troy Times.

An Hour in the Grand Central Depot
In New York.
Letter to the Troy Times.
The signal Office is little room at
the northern entrance of the depot,
about thirty feet above the pavement.
Tt is reached by q narrow passage-way
from the west side, and when you get
Jones go into an unmlstakable surprise.
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 per-
ceptible, 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 A. M. to II at night, their mo-
tions 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 bell over
head. It was marked " Ninety-sixth
to Seventy fifth street." ''You see"
said the operator, there is train
coming in, and it wants to know if we
are ready for it, "But how does it
ring that bell 2" said Jones. "By
electricity" was the reply. This is
Halls patent, which works like a
charm" In a few minutes
another bell rang. It was marked
''Slxty- 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 touches telegraph ma
chine, and then said: "This throws
up the signal to come in, and sure
enough, in few minutes the train ar
rived. 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 &C
tivity. 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 I want to know if the bag
gage is taken out" He touched stop
aud rang bel Gas he sal ~ 900 feet
distant. In a moment a bell overhead
struck twice. baggage is out" he
said "otherwise he would have struck
once, and I would have waited. I must
order the train out. Do you see that
locomotive just ahead? Well, now,
see it move" He touched stop and
I saw the letter z displayed at win
dow in side building. "He
hears bell ring, also," said the opera
tor. The engine backed down and
hitched to the empty train and the z
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 sta
ton. The letters X q q may add
parenthetically) designate the locomo-
tives Of the Harlem, Hudson River and
New Haven roads, and are the signals
to back down and connect with trains.
II am now about to send out pas
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 shall soon close that very door,
but first [ must stop checking bag
gage"
A SMALL KNOB
was touched by his finger. Now"
said he, {" the next trunk that comes
must wait for another train. There
(another touch with the fnger) the bag
gage car is hauled out and switched
on to the right track. Five minutes
more and she is of. Here goes the
sclose the door bell Cat TOUCH no
one passes in after this. Now I say all
aboard Ga touch,) and we hear the
distant voice of the conductor echoing
through the vauited roof. Now It
moves (another touch,) and the
rumbl.ng movement was Immediately
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 assurance of a clear
track for all that may follow. The sta.
tion will contain twelve trains of thir-
teen cars each, and by means of this
wonderful system they are all managed
with disp atch and safety.
Running FOOtmen.
In former days, when coaches did
not 60 above five miles an hour, and
roads were not macadamized, footmen
used to run before their masters. They
were considered indispensable attend