River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-02-17
in some instances wirey, showing that II
has not been moved great distance.
The "BI0ck Systsm', On the PENN
syIvania Railroad IS Precautions
Against Accidents.
From the Philadelphia Press, ]

Against Accidents.
From the Philadelphia Pressl
OF the tens of thousands OF passengers
annually carried between this city and
New York by the fast trains of the Penn.
sylvsnia Railroad probably only small
proportion have any conception Of the
myriads Of details necessary to the work
inc Of the perfect system 20 which they
in great part owe their safety. Ii Ia not
a great many years in fact not great
many months since few simple signals
were all on which the engineer or con.
ductor Of u long train Of living freight
could depend in speeding along the iron
roadway from one point TO another and
when terrible accidents did not now and
then occur it was more the result Of un.
remitting vigilance and heroic devotion
to duty on the part Of the employees Of
road than any really practical means
provided for their guidance. Though
the hand which holds the throttle valve
and the courage which directs the self.
sacrificing actions Of many nm engineer is
so well known as to be celebrated in
poetry and song, it is not a comfortable
ieeiihg to realize that ones life depends
Hbltl1 WI HhdtltlNo do ihAG az lbtl are
noble, and no doubt many an unexpressed
fear would be quoted, and many tu-
mutu0us heart.throb Gained as the
engine whiStled down brakes, if the pas.
sengers on lightning train only knew
Of the numberleSs precautions already
taken by the company Go whom they
intrust their lives. A striking example
in the progress Of rairoading is found in
the New York branch of the Penusylva-
MIA Railroad The whole line between
the two cities is divided into sections Of
two or three miles in length, and each
subdivision is supplied with telegraph
operators ard signal men on constant duty.
a the commencement Of each section IS
placed frame or apparatus for display
ing signal targets or lights, and by these
the engineers are guided with perfect
safety, when otherwise it would he neces-
sary to intrust the lives of the travelling
public to the probabilities of all trains be
ing on time, or all conductors knowing
the full extent Of their duty. The man.
ner in which the signals are classified and
read is exceedingly simple. Whom the
section Is entirely clear white light or
target is shown but when train enters
the section or 'block, rs it is termed
a red one is displayed. and this indi.
Gates that no other train can follow un-
til the white color shows that the dvis-
ion is again clear. Presenting that
1 train has Just entered n block and
the red light debarS all others from i'm.
mediately following, let US in imagination
whirl along with the moving cars and
note the next movement. Only o few
/ moments is required TO pass over the
block, and as the white light at the
next section is displayed the iron horse
/ speeds rapidly Oh from the first division
/ to the second. The instant it passes the
line the fact is telegraphed back to the
commencement of the block, the red light
/ is superseded by the white, and the next
train dashes in. Before the rear train
has cleared the first block the engine
has passed into the third section, and as
the telegraph says and the white light
indicates that the second block Is again
clear, the rear train can speed along into
the second without danger. Thus section
after section is occupied by train after
train, and as they dash onward there is
constant pulsation of intelligence all
along the line bteween the two cities, of
which the passengers on the trains are
totally unconscious. They do not realize.
as they sweep on with the speed Of the
wind, that their every moment is record
ed by the finger of electricity, shooting
back and forth with the velocity of light.
/ Should any delay occur, the trains could
be obliged TO stop on whstever block
they happened to occupy, and as every
subdivision Of the road belongs to the
train which is in at the time, there oan
be no possibility Of collision or danger
from trains in the rear. When the oh
struction is removed the delayed engine
passes on, the telegraph notes the fact.
white lights take the place o. red, and
again all are whirling along TO their des-
tInation. Besides the numerous passen-
\ ger trains there is a great number If
\ freight trains constantly in motion.
These have to make their way along as
| best they can, being careful TO keep al
| ways out of the way o. passenger trains.
/ Knowing just what time they can mako.
and also when the passenger trains are
/ due at any point, the conductors and en-
gineers always manage to make somo
convenient side track in time to escape
\ the collision. When freight
train is running on any block or sec
non, great signal is shown, which
/ indicates that succeeding trains
may follow with caution. lf the next
train carries passengers, it is the business
of the freight to get out OF the way; If il
/ is also a freight train il will probably not
overtake its predecessor. Some of the
\ principal side tracks have telegraph sta.
! tons at both ends, so that no time need
be lost by train hands. There are proba.
bly, more than fifty telegraph offices
scattered along the ninety miles Of road.
| The arrangements usually work so per.
/ iectly that it is seldom necessary Tor any
I train 10 halt before entering block.
Signal follows signal ~ quick succession
along the line, indicating perfect safety
upon the crowded highway. At the
Superintendent s Office in Jersey City
large mart is kept, on which is marked n
record Of the progress of eoch train upon
the road as recorded by telegraph Tho
officers are thus able 90 see the position
Of affairs At al times 4 train cannot be
q minute behind az any station without
the fact being instantly known ut head.
quarters, Il will Doe seen from this that