The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-01

then proceed slowly, keep five minutes
behind their time until the opposing
train is met. The five minutes delay
time must not be used by the opposing
trains.
HAVE RIGHT OF WAY.
Passenger trains have absolute right
of way over freight trains and are not
required to wait five minutes for
them at meeting points. Freight trains
are required to keep entirely out Of the
way Of passenger trains at all times.
The five minutes are allowed for possi-
bic variation of watches and must
never be used by trains interested.
Minutes are of the greatest Importance
in the movements of trains, and every
man connected with the train service
is required to carry a watch that is up
|, to a certain standard 1t must be ad-
justed to heat and cold and protected
from magnetic and electric influences.
These watches are examined every
three months and a certificate of their
time keeping qualities given by the
matchmaker making the examinations,
The correct time Is wired over the
road every day at noon. Telegraph
operators are required to see that their
office clocks are exact and conductors
and engineers must compare time with
the standard clock and with each other
frequently.
Freight trains are required to be on
side tracks at meeting and passing
points five minutes before passenger
trains or freight trains having the
right of way are due. Especial" or
work trains must clear the time of all
trains 10 minutes under all Circum-
stances. A freight, special or work
train, when passed by a passenger 60
ing in the same direction, must wait
five minutes after the train has left be-
fore proceeding on its way.
Trains are not allowed under any cir
Cumstances to use the five minutes at
meeting points. When freight is heavy
and there are more loaded cars to go
on the one train than one engine can
haul, two or three trains, as the cars
on hand may require, are made up and
sent out one after the other. The first
train is known as the "firSt section of
No. H." or whatever the number may
be, and carries two red flags by day
and two red flags by night one on each
side of the headlight to notify opposing
trains that another train is coming be-
hind. The section following carries like
signals. Each section has all the rights
| of the scheduled number train but no
more.
TEN MINUTES APART.
Sections must keep ten minutes apart
except at meeting points where they
| may close up 70 avoid delays. A freight
| train is never run as Il section Of pas
serger train.
At both ends of division and at GER
tain intermediate points are kept train
| registers. In this register conductors
must write, before leaving the station,
| the day of the month, exact time of ar
] rival and departure, number of train.
number of engine. exact number Of
| loaded and empty cars, and his own
| and his engineers name, and what
| signals, if any, he is carrying. On
| every road at almost all seasons, work
| trains are busy hauling ballast, ties, or
| engaged in some manner in improving
| the roadbed. These trains are given
working orders between the hours of
a, m. and : p. m, provided they keep
| out of the way of all trains. They
| must keep a tlagman out 16 telegraph
| poles in either direction to warn spec
| ial trains.
| All trains are notified by the dis
patCher where to look out for work
| trains. In case of accident the conduc-
| tor must send a flagman back and
| ahead if necessary, with three torpe-
does and a flag by day, and a red light
| by night The flag must be not less
| than a half mile from the rear of the
| delayed trains, and the flagman must
| go back until he reaches point where
| his signals can be seen at least a quar-
| ter of mile by the engineman of the
| approaching train. The flagman at
| taChes two of the torpedOeS to the rail
| on the engineers side, about one hun
| dred feet apart. He remains near until
| the expected train arrives, or until he
| is recalled by four long blasts of The
| whistle Of the engine of his own train
| In the latter case he fixes the third
torpedo on the rail, about two hundred
| feet nearer his train and hurries back
Engineers ON striking a torpedo must
stop imm4liately. Ii they strike the
| third one they must proceed with their
| train under full control. An obserV.
anCe of the letter of the train rules will
not always relieve the trainman from
| responsibility or blame. In case of ac-
cident trainman must use good irdg-
| ment and extra precautions 10 those
| laid down in the train rules, if neces-
! sary.
Railroad managers say that if the
| rules We're carefully observed in all
| cases accidents would be a rarity.