The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
NOVEL TIME SIGNAL.
Intended to Replace and I'm prove Upon
the Block system.

Intended to Replace and I'm prove Upon
the Block System.
The most disastrous wrecks known
to modern railroading are most fire.
quently occasioned by rear-end coils
Ions. A train may be running fifteen
or twenty miles an hour, while one fol-
lowing IS making thirty-five or more,
the engineer of the rear train knowing
nothing of the one proceeding. The
former Is sure to be overtaken, and IL
10 warning is given, or II there is
curve in the road or fog in the air,
n smash-up is inevitable.
Mr.. John l.. Allen, at present an op-
orator in the employ of the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad, at Loretto,
Ky, has, 1T is believed, solved the prob
lem of the prevention OF rear-end col
liSions.
BY means of an ingenius device on
which he has been granted letters pat
emf, an engineer can always know
when he Is dangerously near n train
preceding him, and trains may follow
each other only few minutes apart,
without fear of collision. This rail-
nal in the face of the engineer, en-
aiding him TO determine the location
o: the train preceding him, and he can
thus keep his engine under necessary
control or run 10 the full limit, as the
never-failing clock hands of the sig.
nails may instruct him. y train passes
over the track bar. releasing the hands
of the signal, and they drop TO starting
point, commencing at once TO register
the minutes elapsing since the passage
Of the train. Three minutes later, per.
haps, another train thunders up the
track. \ glance at the signal tells the
engineer that he is dangerously near
to the train ahead and he slows down
accordingly, ready to stop should the
other train he sighted. A few miles
further another signal informs the en-
Gineer as to how the train ahead Is
progressing, and he can corresponding
ly Increase his speed or still further
check it, as may be required, thus en-
aiding trains to he run only few min
utes apart without danger.
Mr.. Allen told the story of his in
vcntion rs follows "The clock has
oiIlN HNe WneelS ana very lttle OF any
thing else. The track connection Is
very simple in construction. These
signals will replace many block sys-
tens less reliable and more expensive.
One winding up of the clock will run
1t for 800 trains. There is no Jar to
the clock from train passing over the
track bar. The bar is moved only half
an inch by the tread of wheels. When
the wheels pass over this bar the clock
hands are released and they drop back
to the starting point. When the last
wheel passes over the clock moves and
carries the hands to fifteen minutes
and stops, unless another train passes
before. The dlals are lettered I'm
thrcefOurths circle. so rs TO obviate
confusion in loca ting the hands. The
dials ere two feet square and the hands
fourteen inches long. AZ an engineer
remarked. all n man would want Is
glance and he is shown exactly the
time since train passed that point II
less than fifteen minutes. In many
places the signals can be used without
being lighted, the dials being large
enough to be plainly seen some dis.
lance by the light from the headlight.
lamp is provided inside and can be
Used"