Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-09
THE RAILROAD WORLD.
Expsrimsn's in TslephOning Over Tel
egraph Wires.
A GOOD STORY ON SUPERINTEND-
ENT SWEENEY-AN EXCURSION
TO WASHINGTON-A NOVEL
BUTTON-B. & o. BLUE BOOK.
B. & o. ELECTION.

view to utilizing railroad telegraph
wires for telephone purposes. This
has been accomplished on short cir
cults, but the Morse signals are annoy
ing to those who cannot understand
them, as the sharp, quick sound resem-
bles that of dropping shot in tin pan.
If some device can be arranged to shut
out the telegraph signals from the tele-
phone receiver, it would make a use
full continuance.
1t is not likely that it will ever be
used for the transmission of train or
ders to trainmen without the aid of an
operator, because of the difficulty of
correctly transcribing in writing what
is being said on a telephone.
1t would not suggest itself to a per-
son that cannot telegraph that it is
far easier to transcribe from a tele-
graph sounder than it is to put in writ
ing what someone says by word of
mouth; but anyone who has attempted
to transcribe a message sent by tele-
phone knows what hating, stumbling
process it is.
The expert telegrapher, with Won
derful accuracy, does not miss one SOL
itary action of the swiftly moving ar
mature, and would be willing to swear
to the correctness of his work if called
upon to do so. Men in the train SER
vice can testify to the truth of this
assertion because they risk life and
limb every day they are on duty by
moving trains on busy main lines,
where the slightest error in the orders
might result in disaster
1t frequently happens on single track
railroads that trains have to be de-
layed to give other trains a chance to
make time. When this happens, the
crew that is in "the hole" take it upon
themselves to roundly abuse the poor
train dispatcher, charging him with all
the crimes on the train-movers' calen-
dar.
This telephone contrfvance would be
a capital arrangement for train crews
to ask questions over and erstwhile
call up the train dispatcher and tell
him few leading facts. 1t would be
rare fun for the train crews but a nui-
sance to others.
While such ideas are being worked
out perhaps someone will hit on a
scheme that will enable train crews to
communicate by telephone with the
next telegraph office ahead. Such COM
munications as, Tell him we are los
ing time, account engine not steaming,"
or will make Smithville by 1920;
give us a few minutes on and we
can make Jonesboro," would be a help
to the train dispatcher and everybody
else. In time of trouble such a con-
trivance would simply be Invaluable.
One train crew could also commu-
nicate with another train crew on the
same section regardless of the speed
that one or both were making A word
Of warning to a train following closely
would often prevent an accident
AS there is straight metallic con-
nection between the axle of the caboose
and the rail lying just outside the tele-
graph office, it does not look like a
difficult task to solve such q problem.
1t has been attempted before by string
ing wire along the ties, but drag
ging brake beam, or many other things
that constantly get out of order with
the running gear, destroys the circuit
and often times Just when it would
be most needed
With a good steel rail, equipped wi h
split switches, a circuit could be con-
stantly maintained, either in one raj
or both, excepting only under such
circumstances as the continuity of the
rails being destroyed. and the instru-
ment could be made to record that fact
! 60 those concerned.