The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-12
SIGNALS ON
RAILROADS
Facts Little Known to
General Public.
TIME IS ALL-IMP0RTANT.
Meaning Of Various C0lored Lights
and Flags Employed.
SIGNALS GIVEN by WHISTLE.
TIME IS ALL-IMPoRTANT.
SIGNALS GIVEN BY WHISTLE.

! Probably not one person in a thou
sand OF those who travel daily over the
| various lines OF railroad i'm this coun-
| try understands the meaning OF the sig
nails employed by the roads for the
| safety OF passengers and employees. says
| the New York Times Travellers, as
they sit in the handsomely upholstered
coaches or occupy the elegant apart
ments OF the Pullman or Wagner Sleep
ers, seldom realize how near they have
been TO an accident 1t is not the busi-
ness OF the railway employees to notify
the passengers that a serious accident
was averted--an accident that might
have caused death TO q great number.
ON the contrary, it is required of train
men that they keep the company's af-
fairs TO themselves. AS long as an ac-
cident does not occur ii can be of no
benefit to the passenger TO know that
he came very near" being dashed to
death.
The essential factor with all moving
trains Is time. Correct time must be
maintained by all trainmen, and all
trains must be run on schedule time. as
far as possible. Railroad companies
now require their employees to carry
watches which must be approved by
the company's official watch inspector
and no conductor, engineer or fireman
is allowed to go on duty until his watch
has been approved and the certificate
or approval is filed with the superin-
tendent of the road. AS a further pre-
caution against the failure of watches
10 record the correct time, ii is made
the duty of conductors and enginemen
TO compare their time with clocks des-
ignated for this purpose before starting
on their runs.
On the signals displayed upon mov-
ing trains, which are so little regarded
by the public. the safety of the pas
sengers often depends. At night col
ored lights are used and during the
day colored flags are displayed to con-
vey information.
Red always signifies danger and is
a moving train by displaying a red sig
nal on the track. The rules of all rail-
roads make this imperative.
Green signifies caution, and is the
signal to go slow. These signals are
usually displayed at night in the vicin- |
ity OF stations, or during heavy rains |
at culverts or drawbridge crossings.
White signifies safety, and is the sig
nal to go ahead
Blue is signal seldom used. and Is l
placed on car or engine to forbid it's |
being moved, as In the case of an acct 4
dent.
Sometimes torpedoes are placed on |
the track. when lights are not available. |
This means that the train must be 4
stopped Immediately, as there liz possi- |
BILE danger ahead. Torpedoes have the |
same meaning as red lights or flags.
Colored fuses are also placed upon i
the track and have the same meaning |
as the colored lights. These how |
ever, and their torpedoes are unseen |
ana unheard by the passengers. but
often account for the stoppage OF the /
train at out-of- f-the-way places between
stations.
The whistle signals of the engineer
may be easily learned by travellers,
and will afford much amusement as |
well as information as to what is trans
piring outside the car.
One long blast is the signal
for approaching stations drawbridges,
railroad crossings and functions.
One short blast } is the signal
to apply the brakes, and two long
blasts { } is the signal to re-
lease them.
Three long blasts }.
to be repeated until answered by train
1
parted.
A succession OF short blasts OF the
whistle is an alarm for persons or cat
tie on the track.
Bell cord signals are not frequently
used. Two taps when the train Is run
ming is the signal to stop at once: three
taps means stop at the next station"
four taps means reduce speed"
Lamp signals are the most common
In use on all railroads, but are more
used by freight crews They
are least observed by passengers for
the reason that they are only used at
night They are used much the same
as flags are displayed. with certain
from right To left, vertical,
swung I'm a circle, etc.
Fixed signals will be found i'm every
'ailroad switch yard and i'm the vicin-
ty OF stations. They are placed there
or the guidance OF the engineer, and
Indicate whether or not the track is
lear, II there In danger ahead, N the
rain la to stop, etc. The same signals
ire. used for freight and passenger
rains. but there are additional safe
guards for trainmen on freight trains |
or which the passenger crews have no
Use.
Almost every one has probably no.
iced somewhere along a railroad track
wo high poles on each side of the track |
|
'eam there hangs multitude OF
trings much resembling shoestrings
'hese are called whips" and are dan
,cr signals. They are placed q short
distance on either side of a viaduct, |
overed bridge. or other overhanging
rojeoiio To warn the brakeman who
nay be riding on top of freight cars i'm
he darkness that they are approaching
uch places. The whips striking the
brakeman warn him OF the danger In
lme TO allow him 20 lie Hat. other
Use he may be swept from the car and