Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-07
THE TRAIN TELEGRAPH-A NEW AND
NOVEL INVENTION.

C.. F. McGlashan, editor of the Santa
Barbara Press, has invented "a certain
method of preventing railroad collisions.
Two ordinary telegraph wires are used.
Wheels or electric brushes attached to the
moving train touch these wires, conveying
the electric current from one wire to an
instrument in the car, and returning it to
the other wire, along which it passes until
its destination is reached, when it is con-
nected with ground wire, and completes
the circuit through the earth. The same
current is made to pass through several
trains by simple method of switching at
stations. It enables dispatchers to have
control of every train at each moment of
its progress, and approaching trains are
constantly advised of the position of each.
So, too, when one train is following an.
other. By this method, too, accidents can
be reported the moment they happen, and
messages be received and sent for passengers
while the train is in motion. 1t is claimed
that trains can be run on better time, as
there will be no stopping for orders, no ap-
prehension of colliding with other trains,
of telescoping or being telescoped and no
uncertainty as to whether orders have been
obeyed, or connections properly made. The
telegraph stations need not be abandoned
" fagmen may be sent out as usual and
the entire present system of running trains
may be continued in order to more fully
insure the safety of freight and passengers.
The telegraph poles must be set close to
the track to allow the +" trucks or wheels
conducting the current to run freely.
These "trucks are light metallic de.
vices that are drawn along the wires
by the moving train by rubber
hose encasing the connecting wires. March
25th the invention" had a trial at San
Francisco on the Southern Pacific Rail-
road, and worked satisfactorily. There
the two wires were supported ON Telegraph
poles, each with horizontal arm project
ing toward the track, like the old.f fash.
ioned gallows trees. From these arms
were suspended. by means of an iron rod.
branching into two hooks at the bottom,
like hukes of an anchor, two telegraph
wires, running exactly parallel on the same
plane with each other and about six inches
apart, forming sort of wire-railroad track.
On this track ran a little brass truck with
eight wheels, two large ones running on
the top of each wire and two running un.
der each. The connection between the
wheels on the two sides was under the
| wire, swinging clear OF the rods on which
the track hangs suspended. The upper
wheels passed, two on each side of the rod,
and met with no obstruction. From this lit
| tletruck two wires, inclosed in gutta percha,
| descended to car and connected with an
instrument in charge Of an operator. The
metallic wheels Of little truck running on
the wires, and being always in contact
with them, kept up perfect connection
with the two wires descending to the car,
and formed an electric circuit, the same as
at any ordinary telegraph station. An in
strument was placed in car that was left
standing stationary on the track. The
instrument simply had the uaual form OF
connection with the wires as above. That
on the car to which the engine was at
| tached had its connection with the little
brass truck that ran on the wires. The
Call says it worked to charm. At any
rate of speed, perfect communication. was
kept up with the stationary car. The in.
ventor, in answer to an objection that the
cost of wires and poles is great, replies
that safeguards to life and property are not
| costly st any price. He adds that his
train telegraph" will give train dis.
patchers absolute control over train men,
and nothing will be left to their judgment,
and train men will thus become what rail.
road men desire, machines to run by order
Each truck is provided with scrapers and
knives to keep these wires clear Of obstruc
tions, and 90 fitted are the trucks thai
they cannot be torn from the wires.