Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28
ONE SYSTEM FOR ALL RAILWAYS.
Recommendation for n Standard n
signals for Every ROad i'm the C0Wm.
try.

From the New York Sun.
The railroads are exhibiting wonderful de.
gree of unanimity upon all other subjects except
freight and passenger rates. Having disposed
Of the bugbear of time standards by reducing
ffty-three nharmonious varieties of timeto four
that are evenly divided, the railroads are now
discussing the means by which all tran-running
or road signals shall be simplined into one
common standard. Al present there are
as many ways OF signaling for any one
object as there are roads To Rome In the one
matter of locomotye-whistie signals there are
forty different systems in use. and these systems
agree only In one part They all give the
same sign TO back the train-thrce short toots
close togetner-hut in all other matters an engi-
neer trained ON one big road would be- almost
as ignorant in an engine cab on another road as
II he had spent his life in a British baggage car.
Ii is much the same in matter of conductors
hand signals 10y day and lantern signals by night,
aud also with regard 10 hril-cuTd signals tor
redo signals and stationary or roadside signals.
committee OF thoroughly representative
railroad men. with Mr.. James McCrce. manager
Of the Chicago. 81 Lous and ttshurg as
chairman. was intrusted with the work Of bring
Ing order out of this chaos of movements. They
have made their report. They took twenty five
big railroads as the basis of their study and
thus found out what We're considered the most
natural an. cfllcacious ways Of giving the yari-
Gus signals. With regard 10 hand and lamp
signaling they examined a number Of ntcllt-
gent persons VINO knew nothing about railroad
ing In order 10 find out what the ordinary ind,-
vldual would do II he wanted Ia motion another
man TO stop a tram. or 10 back il. or go ahead
with II, or 10 tell HIM that the train had broken
In two. As a result. the committee " i'll recon-
mend the following hand and lantern signals for
all the railroads:
Go ahead-A motion up and down.
Stop-A motion crosswise with the track.
Back up-A motion i'm a vertical circle
Train parted-A motion in a vertical circle &C
arms length across the track. given continu-
ously until answered 10y tie engineer
The committee viii recommend the following
bell-cord signals One bell. To start train stand
ing: two bells TO stop. train running; two TO
call in flagman. train standng three To stop at
next station, train funning three to back train
standing; four TO reduce speed while running.
For whistle signals eleven are recommended
These are the principal ones: Long blast for ap-
preaching stations crossings and functions;
short toot for apply brakes: two blasts for OF
brakes: two tootS rs an answer to any signal;
three blasts Tor train parted, and three toots Tor
back up.
Under the heading of stationary and fixed
signals, their recommendations are very thor
ough. For torpedo signals. they recommend
one torpedo for danger and two for caution the
latter SO that If one misses lire the other will
bring the train TO a stop.
The report OF the committee will be received
by the next convention and il is believed will pe
accepted. with very slight notifications. If IL Is
not adopted outright. Unlike the time stand
ard, this will affect none but the railroad men,
yet II Will be OF great convenience TO them.