New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-22
FOR SAFETY AND SPEED.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FOURTH AVENUE
TUNNEL
BETTER BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM BEING PUT

a BETTER BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM BEING PUT
IN BY THE NETWORK CENTRAL.
number of important improvements and changes Is
being made in the Fourth-ave. tunnel by the New
York Central Railroad Company An improved BLOCK
signal system will suppIant and In part take the pace
of the present system, and will be so afrahetu U''
there will be practically two systems, 50 ts' II ono
gives out the other be used WITHOUT caushs "o~'
In the traffic. An experiment Is also being maze WIN
false roof of sheet iron by which 1t is Intended 10
ventate the tunnel. This roof Will extend nom inc
tops of the sides Of the three tunnels nearly " "o
centre OF the arch, leaving space large enough " %
nit the smokesack of a locomotive inc sihoAe WI,
be drawn up the openings In the fool VI 'e
tunnel by means Of compressed ar winch VIII NC ''"
through the tunnel in q large iron pipe 49,
THIS arrangement IL is said by the inventor VIII
entirely clear the tunnel Of smoke The experiment
Us being made on Io00foot section OF one Vi tlo so
tunnels 1t will cost about S2O,Ooo 10 MAKO 1t, ouO
Vice President Webb docs not hesitate 10 maze eNeIy
experiment which Will add 10 the safety and comfor'
OF the public. ,
The specifications for the new signal system nave
kept G. H. Platt the general manager OF the ursnu
Central Station busy for over three months anu 40
NAV we'll be excused for feeling of pride IN the Tes'
of his work. He said yesterday that inc TIC" -
had the sykes combination with full track circuits
9 scott Indicators are added 10 it," be continued
q ubich enables the operator in each tower 10 $50
,rbether the blocks sections lie controls arc oDa'
The indicator circuits are interlocked Win 'o !"'
Munger Then there Will be audible signals, Do.H
gongs and torpedoes, working in harmony WIN u.o
visual home signals The visual home signals VIII an
be duplicate, ohe on ethef siue VI e"0" "
work simultaneously. ,.,
We know OF no safer system thsn ours III 'I0
world but our effort has been TO pIoVlde eNelS "u
dtinnal safeguard against occasional failures VI CIV
trcal currents through the sykes circuit ana oc Vii
,,rcut 10 perform their part In unlocking lie slSI
ipp & N
a. IL IL more difficult 10 maintain perfect circuit Ill
,,nne than elsewhere on account of the damp ana uS',
and from tao further fact that with a hoVenei. VI
about 500 separate trains and engines O'o' Uo my
each dsy even the occasional failure OF track CIRCUIT
may serious delay. - 80
Mr. Patts Specifications for the new system arc %
follows All safeguards and indicators now III use !"
oonnectjo, with the sykes cabinets or OTHERWISE "
be retained and t. work in harmony WIN Vn0 pr
p,sed improved systemt; the blocks or SECTIONS ca
tend one hundred feet beyond each home sigma, anu "
e 81 arranged that II will be mpossDe u cle"r uie
signal In the rear OF the section uhlh u"ii, oH00
,nitted has PASSED entirely out; new caDile's anu
,ochs to be so arranged that gravity shall be over
come IN unlock levers instead Of allowing gravity "
assist in unlocking. as heretofore - o,.,,or
An houe signals 10 be in duplicate, one on eiI'ol
edo of each track and 10 work spontaneously q"
indepensent and direct circuit togetHer VIII" upp
mental cabinets shall DO provided to unlock oauiUn
nara.or .tcre 10 withdraw the audible signs anu ~
.bou a carlton signal in the regular track crou
Is ont OF order. This secondary or green sieni O'i
70 be used by the concurrent acton OIL te oP9"V 49,.
bodh towers circuits and locks to be SO arrahseu "
Il will he impossible for the operators 10 sho" -
siqnaI when section ahead Is occupied; II eii' ~
impssible to show the green or caution sigma
,be train preceding or some part OF II, mas re''''u
and passed the advance train. - chou,
alt shall be impossible for any operator u Sno"
either "a clear q caution slghal "ilhou' "l -.
mission and cooperation of The operator I'D INC
tower: all visual signals 10 assume tue uaiieeI Po9
automatically when the train for which they "cIo
- ,ases them: all signals to be repeated 10 lowers
controlling Them repeaters 10 show the postum VI
sicna,s vl,Ially and to andlbly IL not "oiN'e
n,ynery or light extingmshed; tie prliaiS '"N
secondary cabinets ana circuits 10 DC 50 al @aneN
not 10 conflict in any way with etch oUler' AH0 ~
o tha secondary circuit not TO be bar 10 pfeVehV
AZ rso NJ the primary or tack circuit for the heNu
Trim all sicoals and mechanical devices to DO weigcd
to the danger position and the whole system " 10
so arranged that the failure OF any psl1 u ~ "0UN
nut and hold the signals at danger r
eTbe audible signals not TO assume aulolidio"iS
,bo DANGER po,tlon ON the passage OF an engine o
car: the visual and gong signals 10 NC 50 H'I'ie@
that they can be put to danger at any uhe u"'I"e
the MASSAGE of train if necessary torpedo explorers
10 be 50 connected that they cannot be restor"l 10
danger during the passage Of train, but can De aO
all other times. This to prevent operators A"ni
throwing torpedo expOder to danger before the as'
track has passed, exploding torpedo ana leaving ca
Der empty during approach OF tie iolo%lP r ha none
with the visual signals except as above piOViutepH
movements of signals, deecor bars ec' 10 nave w
benefit the free stroke OF levers cabinets ana ION
10 be 50 arranged TINT the plIngcr cannot be pushed
in when section is Occnped cabinets 10 be OF duaola
parts strongly made simple in plan and 50 arranged
that the plunGcr contact shall DC ful ana coliPcvc
ut each STROKE So, ,
Mr. Plat thinks the work will be completed IN
about three months. lie says that the EOultllaVe
tunnel + the only place IN the country where the
sykes SYSTEM full track circuit is used new feature
j. that gravity Will be overcome by electricity IN work
ing the levers. Gravity is used TO assist III I'M
locking There will be two at the end OF each
halfnilc section, one for the nOrilbound track ana
the other for the sOuthbGund operators now have 10
look for trains in both directions
The supplemental system is Mr. Patts own idea and
railroad experts whom hc has called in 10 criticse his
work. have found nothing to against ". When the
rht is set the engineer Will know that the
uaI track circuit Is out OF order and that he must pro
coed with caution but need not stop When the circuit
fails now II causes blockade and il Is necessary TO
resort 10 hand signals which exceedingly slow. An
additional advan ttge that the system has the
old is that it is more simple, Mr.. Plat says.