The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-03
SIGNALS ON TRAINS.
WHAT WHISTLES AND WAVING ARMS
AND LANTERNS MEAN.

upper part OF the state recently an express
| train was stopped and a party of half a
| dozen men jumped TO the ground 10 taxa
| advantage of the delay by walking around
| Finally they gathered close to the rear car
and were very much absorbed IN a story
| being told by one of their number when the
whistle on the locomotive sounded three
| blasts
! Look outr' cried one of the men, jump
| ing away from the car and dragging two
of his companions with him, shes going to
( back up"
| The others sprang aside at the warning.
but none too soon, for at that moment the
! rear car lurched backward and the train
rolled by them and into switch to let the
wrecking car pass.
| The men crowded around the man who
| gave the warning, claiming they owed their
escape from injury and probably their
| lives to him, and asked him how he knew
the train was going TO back up.
''Three whistles mean that the engineer
| Is about to reverse his lever" said the man
quietly. when l first began &c travel
learned all the signals just for fun"
Every sensible man, woman and child in
| this country would do we'll To follow this
example Not that it will necessarily save
them some time in a collision land it may
for all that, but it adds new Zest TO trav.
cling to be able TO decipher every sound
| and signal heard and seen. and the man
who possesses such knowledge is ofttimes
| enabled to turn it to great advantage.
The average American traveller takes his
seat In the Pullman car and considers him
self safe, relying upon the trainmen and
conductor TO avoid all accidents bestowing
no thought whatever upon the various and
ofttimes intricate signals that must be
given and received in order that his safety
may be assured.
He may know that the ringing of the
bell denotes the starting of the engine or
the passage of the train over streets and
crossings, but the actions of the trainmen.
the many waving lanterns and the yari-
colored lights arc TO him riddles.
THE AIR SIGNAL.
The signals which coma most frequently
TO the attention of the passenger are those
made by the air signal, which is one Of the
best and latest acquisitions ID railroad
maneuvers- 1t has entirely ousted the bell
rope, which used to run the entire length
of the train.
The rope with which this signal is op-
Grated hangs in each car near the roof and
every car now has its separate length OF
rope, which is connected at each end to the
air valves. The good qualities of the air
signal are numerous. In the first place il
saves great deal of time and labor for
with it the train man does not have to go
through the train connecting the bell
ropes and arranging the coil of surplus
rope to the rear platform of the last car
AS soon as the air brakes are connected
the signal is ready TO be used When the
conductor wants to signal the engineer he
has merely to touch the thin rope hanging
above him and small steam whistle IN
the cab is blown. With the bell rope be
had to lay his whole weight on the rope
and in long train the signals often went
wrong.
If train breaks in two the whistle viii
be started at once and cannot be stopped
until the tardy cars have been joined. The
engineer can therefore be instantly in
formed when car breaks away. and con,
sequently can take the necessary action
immediately, thus saving considerable
time, TO say nothing of any number Of lives
should the train happen TO De on down
grade.
One pull of the signal rope starts the
train, and when it is in motion one pull
calls for an immediate stop. Two pulls
inform the engineer that he must stop at
the next station, and three pulls Is the test
signal.
LOCOMOTIVE WHISTLES.
The whistle on the locomotive is signal
frequently observed by passengers and also
greatly misunderstood by them. Who has
not seen a dozen or more heads pop out Of
windows at the whistling OF the engine
when there was really no cause of danger
or even interest In this system there are
eight signals used.
First is the long single blast. used when |
approaching stations Then comes the |
short single whistle. which is generally |
the sign Of danger and calls for the appli |
cation of the brakes. la tho old hand |
brake days this signal falling on the ears |
of the brakemeu caused them to jump %
the platforms and exert their utmost # I
forts in setting up" the brakes az tightly !
as human muscles could do il The air /
brakes render this signal Of small moment I
now, and it is only used on freight trains !
Two short, sharp whistles mean 10 let l
oG brakes, while three blasts signify that 1
the engineer is about to reverse the lever
and back the train. One long blast and 4
two short ones are the crossing signal, and 4
the rules are very strict in regard to their
invaTiable use night and day
Four moderately long whistles are the
signal for calling In the flag - Whenever
a train stops Unexpectedly and il - known
or suspected that another il following On
the same track. the rear traInnau must
hasten back proper distance with the
flag or lantern. Repeated short whistles
mean that there IS stock on the track
Five long blasts signify that the engine
has broken down and summon the nearest
engine TO lend helping push 20 ;he next
station.
LANTERN SIGNALS
One Of the mos valuable hsl rs 70 the rail
road man IS the white lantern. with which
4 number o. signals are made. Raising
il in the air perpendi c1iiarly and dropping
& ia a straight dns means 70 SOP Hold
Bg the lantern near he ground and caus
ny il % swing lF3B ssde 20 s5de across the
rack j. the signal 20 back. Reversing tbs
md swinging tue iizht ovsr the head in 3
snicircls .s the signal - 70 abead- ] b@
ipeed Il which the engine - 20 move -
regulated o. tbs rapsdlfy with which tbs
Motions u TIE lantern are made
Quite com pi3caf41 es~.es 81 s xnsi ar
made ~ tbs various l1DtsaI4s ~ the hznes
I'D arms taees Of e0arss beirc svss4st5 b.
MY during the daytime. Waving tbF
5ght hand over the head VIA foy~ilDEer !
3 ssBded bringing she arm from p@yEen {
sczllar oosrG % an almost tsoy.Lo1 a. posi-
3on. Is tse signal 20 20 ahsad. Extending
1thgr srru horizontally and waving me ,