The evening world., 1891-08-21
MAKING THE Tunnel SAFER,
Plans for Ventilation and I'm
proved Signalling Adopted.
The Hood System for Carrying or
Smoke and Cinders VIII Ba Tried.

uis announced to-day that the New York
oontral Railroad Company's ofncials have de-
c,ded upon plans TO reduce the possibility OF
occ,dent in the Fourth Avenue Tunnel to a
,0,nImum This course Is IN obedience to
tho suggestions OF the Railroad Commissions
arc made in accordance with the law upon
tbe subject urged to passage by The EVENING
WORLD at the last session of the Legislature.
The plans comprise extensive improve
ments in the system Of signalling. In addi-
t,on the matter OF ventilation Of the tunnel
uhout which, as THE EVENING WORLD has
repeatedly pointed out. no signals can be
odeouate-has been the subject OF much
study, with the result that the plan OF a false
roof or hood, Of sheet-iron next TO the arch,
with an opening just over the smokestacks Of
the engines through which smoke and cinders
will be drawn up by strong currents Of air
forced through 1t by steam fans, has been
practically adopted.
This plan OF ventilation has been fully de-
scribed and illustrated In THE EVENING
WORLD.
The improvements in the signal system are
elaborate. There will be separate sets OF
towers and operators for outward bound and
inward bound trains. At present trains
going each way are regulated by the same
dgnalmen
In describing the improved signal system
General Manager Platt, OF the Grand Central
Station, who prepared the specifications, said: !:
ain general, the system has the Sykes COM
bination, with full track circuits, added to
which are First, Scott indicators, which
show 10 the operator in each tower whether
the blocks or sections controlled by him are
clear or occupied. The indicator circuits are
interlocked with the Sykes plunger. Sec
ondly, audible signals, both torpedoes and
gongs, working In harmony with the visual
home signals.
"Al visual home signals will be in duplicate
on either side OF the track, and worked siInul-
tAneOusly.
"Our effort has been to provide additional
safeguards and for occasional failures OF cleo
trCal currents through the Sykes circuit and
the track circuit TO perform their part In un-
locking the signal levers
"Ihc latterprOvisiOn Is especially important
inasmuch as II Is more difficult TO maintain a
perfect track circuit through tunnel than
elsewhere, and from the further fact that with
movement OF about 500 separate trains and
engines over the line per day even the occa-
sional failure Of track circuit may cause Sc
TiOlS delay"
IL Is Sulu lUdu Ine COSl OI I0e improvements
will not be less than 100000, exclusive OF the
cost Of the ventilatlng apparatus.
one OF the new features Is that gravity Will
be overcome in unlocking levers In the old
system. when the levers are unlocked, gravity
does the work. Electricity Will hereafter do
the work. But the most original feature viii
be the supplemental signal system, with an
Independent and direct circuit and an ell
trely separate cabinet to be used In case Of
emergency.
The idea Is that OF Mr. Platt. At present
the hcmr signals have 0 red and white face.
green side will be added. In case the rPgu-
lar signal system fails to work the operator
who notices the trouble Will pull a lever,
which viii throw the home signal to green"
instead OF red. which is the usual danger
signal. An engineer sees the difference
when he comes along, and the green signal
tells him that he must proceed with eau
ton, because the main signal system is out OF
order.
~ present when the circuit fails a blockade
happens, and the only relief is by hand Sig
nails. which are slow and tedious
II may be thought that the new system is
moro complex than the old on the con-
trary, Mr.. Platt says 1t will be simpler, be-
cause good deal OF the mechanism will be
done away with.