The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-11-14
IF HE DROPPED DEAD.
WHAT WOULD RESULT IF THIS HAP
PENEO TO THE SlGNALMAN.

This Query Draws ont AN Interesting De
scription of the Workings of the Auto
matte signals-How They Are Operated
In the Harlem Road Tunnel
Two commuters occupied a seat in one
Of the suburban trains of the Harlem road,
which was speeding through the Park ave.
nue. tunnel. They were discussing block
signals aud the possibilities Of accidents
In the tunnel, which are interesting topics
to commuters always
"Well, now, suppose an operator IN one
of these block signal stations in this tun-
mel after having set the white signal should
drop dead. would not the consequences be
simply AWFUL
"They would iudeed,' answered the
other
Both men shuddcred and became silent.
They were wondering doubtless whether,
after ALL it was worth while to take their
lives In their hands every day for the sake
of elbow room in the country
"What would happen. was asked OF y.
II. FRANKLIN, general manager OF the Har-
lem rond, ''if a block signal operator should
drop deadF
Nothing at all, " he replied, laughing
Except that the poor operators place would
have to be filled. Why Because the sig
nal would return automatically to danger.
The train that next reached the block would
stop, and the engineer would take steps TO
find out why he was not allowed to proceed.
The fagman on duty at the signal station
there is one at each of the stations in the
tunnel-would unquestiouably by the time
the train had arrived he possessed of the de
sired information.
1.-The block system in the tunnel, y went
on Mr.. Franklin, "is the best in the world.
We are now averaging about 40 trains a
day through the tunnel-that is, OF course,
both WAYS. OF these 300 are passenger
trains, aud the others shop trains and en-
gines-everything that takes up space in a
block being called a train
"What number of passengers does that
involve?"
Mr.. Franklin figured for moment and
then answered: ~ should say low esti-
mate would be GO,OOO. If you were to seek
a ratio of the persons killed to those car
ried in the history Of the tunnel you would
find it almost nil. There have been but
two serious accidents in the tunnel. The
first was before it had any block system,
and the second was prior to the adoption OF
the automatic arrangement by which the
signals. in case of any failure by the oper-
ators, will always secure safety"
The tunnel is two miles in length and
has four tracks The two in the center art
for fast through trains, and those on the
sides for the rapid transit trains to Mot
Haven. Incoming trains run on the TIVE
eastern tracks and outgoing trains on thos
to the west Block stations for north ant
south bound trains are directly opposit
each other in the tunnel. Each station ha
an operator and tagman. There are thre
forces at each station, one working from
A. m. to p. M, one from 3 to II p. IN, an
one from IL y. m to I. a. m.
The automatic arrangement for the r
turn of the red or danger signal after Il
white signal has been shown is the resu
of the replacing of short, releasing curren
with rail circuits extending from tower
tower, thus providing against the possibi
ity of operators Clearing signals at I'll
entrance to any block when any portion
the preceding train remains in the bloc
although the forward part of the latt
train has passed out and performed its pa
in unlocking" at the advance tower.
This change, it has been said, was seen
be desirable in the tunnel on account OF Il
difficulty at times of operators seeing Il
tall lights or markers of passing trains NJ
of knowing that all the train had bee
cleared
In the present improved state of bloc
signaling in the tunnel an operator cann
clear the signals governing any block wht
"A ear. "A single pair of wheels or any IN
tallic obstruction reaching from rail to RI
is in the block The operator is, in fac
prevented from clearing signals in any b.
the appointed way. The whole block al
shifting and signaling apparatuses are
arranged that should there be any failu
in or fracture of either the electric or m
chanical parts the signals would at on
assume and maintain the danger position
The chance that both the all clear al
caution signals would fail at once is We
small, but if they should the signal OPP
ators, being familiar with the Morse alpl
bet for telegraphing and having wires
their command ordinarily used for annoul
ing from comparatively distant points t
approach of trains, recourse could be h
to regular telegraphic communication, a
trains moved past the signals set at dams
by special critters.
The tunnel, in addition to its main S
tenn for block signaling, is provided witt
secondary system, not necessary III the
binary conditions under which trains
run. But the tunnel conditions tend
produce somewhat frequent failures in
proper working of all mechanical and el
trical appliances, and the great traffic
bids any delay that ingenuity can circu
vent. The object in providing the secoI
ary locks and circuits is to prevent app
ciable delay to trains should the regu
system fail in displaying clear signals
unoccupied blocks.-New York World.