Evening journal., 1898-04-25
THE SIGN LANGUAGE.

THE SIGN LANGUAGE.
The business talk Of railroad men is
not carried on by means of the oral
method, but by the use of signs and
signals, which are more expressive to
the well-trained railroad man than is
the word of mouth, and much more in
keeping with the noise attending the
present endeavor to obtain the fastest
sort Of rapid transit.
Hundreds of persons who patronize
the railroads see and hear these signs
and signals and do not appreciate their
significance. They seem to think that
they are so manifold and complex as
to be utterly confusing to any person
not engaged In the active business of
railroading. This is a mistake, for the
chief charm and effectiveness Of these
signs and signals are their simplicity.
The Wayfarer finds that intimate ac-
quaintance with their meaning en-
hances the pleasures OF trip on the
cars, and, for that reason, he gives a
few OF the most common OF them as
prescribed for the operation OF the p,
w. q B. railroad, which passes through
this city, and the Northern Central
railroad, the Baltimore and Potomac
Canadian and Atlantic railroad and
the Alexandria and Fredericksburg
railway, in addition to the whole Penn
sylvania system:
For signals flags of the proper color
must be used by day and lamps Of the
proper color must be used by night, or
when from fog or other cause the day
signals cannot be clearly seen. Red
signifies danger, and is a signal to stop
Green signifies caution, and Is a signal
to 80 slowly. White signifies safety,
and is a signal to go on. Green and
white is signal to be used to stop
trains at flag stations for passengers or
freight. Blue Is signal to be used by
car inspectors. An explosive cap or
torpedo, clamped to the top of the rail,
is a signal to be used in addition to the
regular signals. The explosion of one
cap is a signal to stop Immediately; the
explosion Of two caps, to reduce speed
and look out for q danger signal A
fusee is an extra danger signal, to be
lighted and placed on the track at
night, in cases OF accident or emer-
gency. A train finding fusee burning
upon the track must come to a stop,
and not proceed until it is burned out
A flag or lamp swung across the track,
signifies danger, and Is a signal to
stop.
All trains are designated as regular
or extra. Regular trains are those rep
resented on the timetable, and may
consist Of one or more sections. Extra
trains are those not represented on the
timetable. An engine without cars, in
service on the road, Is considered a
train. Each train, while running, must
1frr,1orr 40 htrI do 4
green lights by night, one ON each side
OF the rear OF the train, as markers,
to indicate the rear of the train. Yard
engines do not display markers. Each
train, running after sunset, or when
obscured by fSg or other cause, must
display the headlight in front, and two
red lights in the rear. Yard engines
must display two green lights instead
OF red, except when provided with a
headlight on both front and rear Two
green flags by day and two green lights
by night, displayed in the places pro-
vided for that purpose on the front of
an engine, denote that the train Is fol-
lowed by another train, running on the
same schedule and entitled to the same
timetable rights as the train carrying
the signals. Two white flags by day
and two white lights by night, display
ed in the place provided for them on
the front OF an engine, denote that the
train Is extra. These signals are dis
played on all extra trains. A blue flag
by day and a blue light by night,
placed on the end Of car, denotes that
car inspectors are at work under the
car or train. The car or train thus pro-
tected must not be coupled to or moved
until the blue signal is removed by the
car inspectors and other cars must not
be placed in front OF it so that the blue
signal will be obscured, without first
notifying the car inspector, that he
may protect himself.
The whistle signals are made as fol-
lows
One long blast Of the whistle is a sig
nal for approaching stations, railroad
crossings and functions. One short
blast Of the whistle is a signal TO apply
the brakes. Two long blasts OF the
whistle is a signal to throw off the
brakes Two short blasts of the whis-
tie is an answer to the conductors sig
nal to stop at the next station, or an
answer to any signal, except train
parted" Three long blasts Of the whis-
tie Is a signal that the trains has part
ed. Three short blasts of the whistle
when the train is standing TO be re-
peated until answered, Is a signal tina
the train will hack. Four long blast
OF the whistle is signal 10 call In thu
fagman or slgnalman. -Four shOr
blasts of the whistle is the engine
mans call for signals from switchmen
watchman and trainmen. TWO lonl
blasts. followed by two short blasts o
the whistle, is a signal for approaching