The Bessemer indicator., 1894-03-17
ODD SILENT LANGUAGE.
HOW RAILROAD EMPLOYEES
SIGNAL EACH OTHER.
Explanation of the Frantic Ge.ticuIations
Which Puzzle the Uninitiated-The Rear
brakeman Does Most of tho Signaling,
Converting In Gale.

The silent language OF the modern
railway employe is Il mystery to the
uninitiated. Wild movements OF
arms. hands. body, head. rolling OF
the eyes and distorting the face
when gone through in rapid success
sion, are liable to Incline one to the
belief that he Is In the midst of a
colony Of lunatics.
Signs have been made necessary to
convey information between employees
by the long trains OF the present day
making speedy communication in
any other way an impossibility.
Ihere Is now sort of international
code In use. according to tho New
York journal. which is practically
tho Same on every road running out
OF New York. At night the same
signals are conveyed with lantern
Tho roar brakeman is the man who
does most of the signaling, for the
reason that 1t is he who is nearest
the conductor and from him receives
orders for the entire crew.
Here are few of tho things they
talk about while balancing them
selves on the tops OF high cars while
the wind Is blowing gale.
The conductor expresses desire
to have the engine cut loose from
the train. AT this the brakeman
clenches his right hand on level
with his stomach and the left above
his head. Then ho quickly roverses
the position. The engineer under
stands just what is wanted.
Tho engineer on entering tho town
sees tho rear man touch his fore
head. then, extend his arm and point
to the right. and he knows that the
train is to enter on the right.hand
siding or switch. Should the ex-
tending OF the arm be straight
ahead it means just that, that tho
train Is not to take tho siding.
Tho opening OF the hand fiat,
- fingers down. with sweeping motions
from right to left, indicates when
the train is at a standstill that it is
to be uncoupled SO as to allow teams
to pass through.
When. in switching. it IS desired
to give cut-oH car shove strong
enough to send 1t clear upon the
switch, the brakeman stretches out
both his arms and wriggles his fists
violently.
II the train is to stop at tho next
station to dump way freight the
brakeman with both hands goes
through motions, not dissimilar to
those Of a man cutting wood.
The car counting trick is one Of
the most ingenious, perhaps OF all
the signals. In doing this both
hands are brought sharply together
above the head, each clap meaning
one car, ordinarily used to let the
engineer know how far he must back
to reach certain point or car.
After one OF these claps, should the
hands part, describe semicircle,
then a pause, both hands horizontal,
he knows that means half o cars
length.
Holding up two fingers of the
right hand. palm in. indicates that
fiat coupling pin is needed. Spread
ing all the fingers OF the right hand,
then closing the hand smartly,
means that a coupling link is re-
quired.
Holding both hands extended on
level with the hips means set the
"a sShoo' Az " luulCdbcu ny
waving one hand slowly above the
head. Reckoning means to back,
but in switching both hands are
waved above the head to indicate 60
ing ahead.
II the wrong car has been un-
coupled the brakeman makes a circle
of thumb and foretinger of left hand
md jabs the fOreinger OF the right
hand into it several times. 1t is
not graceful. but very effective.
These are only few OF the things
In this silent language, but suffice 1t
to say that there is no conversation
connected with the operating OF
trains that these hardy fellows can
not carry on with head, body and
arms and be understood perfectly.
Tho violence or gentleness with
which these signals are given also
indicate something, just as the light
and heavy lines in shorthand writing
indicate different letters or words
They even carry this so far as to
,lirt with the dairymaids along the
line. who quickly become familiar
with the language of the railrosder.
The whistle signals are principally
used to indicate "down brakes"
one whistle; eyes," or 81 am going