The Topeka state journal., 1899-01-03
III. s. Montgomery Has a Valu-
able Invention.
Prevents Engineers From Pass
ing Meeting Points.
LIKE AN ALARM CLOCK
Is Attached to the Engine and
Warns Engineer.
Many Accidents Can Be Saved
by This Device.

Mr.. H. s. Montgomery, general
watch inspector of the Santa Fe, has
invented what is destined to be an i'm
portant device for railroad use, and
which cannot fail to prevent many ac-
cidents. and is therefore of inestimable
value.
Mr.. Montgomery terms his invention
an Order Register" Its Office is to
notify the enginemen of meeting points
between trains. 1t is well known that
great many accidents on railroads are
due to the fact that enginemen overlook
or forget the train dispatcher's orders
for meeting or passing points. The
patent register conceived by Mr.. Mont
gomery consists of a fine adjusted full
jeweled clock movement, to which is
connected properly arranged signal
for directing the engineer and fireman's
attention to the fact that the next sta
tion Is a meeting point with another
train. The register is to be placed
closely to and in full view of the engi-
neer, but its signal will be sufficiently
loud to attract notice from the fireman,
therefore making doubly sure the warn
ing intended. 1t will be simple in its
management, only being required to be
wound once each day. An index, which
is almost instantaneous in its adjust
ment is set by the engineer to the hour
and moment of the meeting point.
AS the train approaches the station
or siding the signal warns the engineer
and will continue the signal for many
minutes unless silenced by pressing
button.
Very frequently both the engineer and
fireman have their minds engrossed
with the various multiplications of their
duties-the engine works bad; there is a
leak somewhere. The air is giving both
er or she fails to steam properly-many
things to so divert their minds that the
order to meet such and such train at
given station entirely escapes their
mind. Then follows destruction of pro-
perty and loss of life.
A few months ago the Rock Island
road had a disastrous collision near
Bonner Springs, due solely to an engl-
neer falling to side-track for fast
train bound in an opposite directions.
He entirely forgot the order in his pock-
ct and his memory was only refreshed
by the sudden appearance of the other
train, too late for action other than a
hasty attempt to have his own life. Mr..
Montgomery'S invention would have
prevented the collision. Last summer
Engineer Heddy of the Santa Fe pulling
a west-bound passenger train was CIV
en- orders to meet an east-bound pas
senger train at BOsworth, Mo- Doubt
less Mr.. Heddy was greatly bothered by
some failure of his engine, or other i'm
portant matter; at all hazards he forgot
the orders in his pocket and new oy the
meeting point at a high rate of speed.
Just around curve he and his hre-
man saw the other train rushing toward
them No human agency could stop the
collision. The engineer lost his life and
there was heavy loss of property in the
wreck An "Order Register would
have saved it all. There are numerous
cases of the kind.
The register will be as nearly IN
falIible as it is possible to make a ma
and highly necessary adjunct to an
engines equipment, and it will not be
very expensive, either, compared with
its utility.
The question might arise would an
engineer forget to index the S1gnal?"
Mr.. Montgomery has feature for pre-
venting this by covering its use in the
regular train rules requiring engine men
to familiariZe themselves with the rule
governing it, the same as any other
time table rule, and further to make its
use entirely effective he would require
all orders issued by train dispatches to
close with the words: "Set register
signal" and as a further precautionary
measure make it obligatory upon con-
ductors to see that the signal was ar
ranged before accepting the engineers
o. X on the order sheets, all of which
would not occupy more than 80 seconds
time. Even without these effective rules
there would hardly occur failure upon
the part of engineers to set the signal
as such an act would soon become as
much a part of their actions as the pull
ing of the throttle in leaving the point
where orders were received. Engineers
have their minds full of care all the
while they are on duty, and they will
hail this invention as an indispensable
assistant.
AS a saving Of expense to railroad
companies in the matter Of destruction
of equipment and other property, 1t
seems there could hardly be placed upon
the device an approximate value in
monetary sense, and there is hardly a
doubt of it's adoption by every road in
the country. 1t will be manufactured
by a celebrated clock and watch COM
pany, which fact will vouch for its ex-
cellency in points Of construction and
accuracy.