The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-10-26
IN A SWITCH TOWER.
NOW NEW YORK'S GREAT NETWORK
OFRAILS IS MANAGED.
Handle the Levers-Ingenuity Re-
Guired to Overcome Cramprd Con-
dittOms

Vuireu 10 overcome ST""P'" w.
ditions
Even with the necessary room at com
mand, the proper systematizing OF mat
ters at the terminal station of a biz
railroad taxes the ingenuity of the OF
fcials. When, as is the case at thu
! Grand Central Station in New Yorf
city, the station-yard is wedged within
narrow limits, the problem becomes
extremely difficult.
There is probably no spot in the city
| where there is so much concentrated en-
ergy continually being exercised as in
the switch tower of the station-yard
| There are 40 switch-levers, ranged
side by side down the middle of the tow
er floor, commanding the interlaced
patchwork of tracks that surrounds the
! tower. Additional space would be a
boon to the yard-master and his aides.
Even so much as a tracks width OF
ground on either side would greatly ia
cilitate matters. AS it is, when there
is much business beyond the regularly
assigned trains, the yard-master SIM
ply takes counsel with his lever-workers
and adds a new combination to the al
ready lengthy list of combinations con-
tanned in the station textbook.
This is just brief summary Of what
the men have to know before they be-
gin practice In the tower" said the
station superintendent recently, hand
ing a thick yellow paged pamphlet for
the visitors inspection. There are 3Sl
combinations there, all referring to the
locks and checks, switches and signals,
controlled by the levers. Our best tow
er-men know these combinations by
heart They know them so well, indeed,
that If there is one bit of apparatus not
being worked for all it is worth, they
can suggest a new resource to the yard
master when he has some special de-
mand to meet. The tower-men are all
picked workmen. They arrive at the
position after long apprenticeship, and
once there, If their work gives satisfac-
ton, they stay for years.
The men manipulating the long-hand-
led levers give the impression of play
ing on some huge instrument, the key
board of which is alone visible. They
pull down red lever here and push up
a blue one beyond, reaching out a hand
to snap a third In place. Yellow, black,
blue, red; black, yellow. red, blue, back
and forth they change the handles, the
performance all in agreement with the
teachings and formulas Of the yellow
text hook.
There is silence in the tower except |
FOR the sound of the mems feet on the
Dare floor, as they move back and forth |
Il 10 t,,5t
he constantly recurring click, click, OF |
he released levers settling back to |
place, and the tinkling of the electric
)ells in their metal reverberators, The |
clocks that are posted at |
along the wall on level with |
he mems eyes do not tick, Their en-
ire attention is given to telling the
ime, plainly and clearly, to the fraction
# a second These clocks have plain
aces and big easily seen hands with
10 hourishes or ornament The work
men are of like pattern. They are as
trong and muscular as blacksmiths,
ret their movements are quick and
lert. The mems faces look as if they
we're carefully considering, listening to
he signalling Of the bells and the sound
ne of the sWitch-locks and complying
Nth orders. The foreman of the gang
ppears to be gifted with the faculty of
Ding half dozen things at the same
me. There are plunge-bels at his ell
oW, by which he can signal TO a half
undred places out through the tunnel
here is megaphone for giving mes
ages to the men in the yard below; his |
wn special batch of levers is to be at
ended to and he must keep in touch |
18th the men in the telegraph-ro |
ut in the small building back of the {
Jwer. He works eight hours day. {
After being in the switchtower a C m
derable length of time the various |
discs and clickings become distinct. II S
IN be told from the sullen thud or the
Iarp click of a liberated lever whether 3
lie iron tentacles it moves are heavy s
I'd far-reachng or merely the throw q
a signal Of the turning of a lock- AS o
n the signal-bells, each speaks Ian /
lage of its own. Now one rings long | a
I'd inSistently, the same note over and | I
'er tale that the foreman interprets /
rapid chalk-marks on his slate, and O
lswers with his staccato plunge-bels. {
ow comes only a short, quick tinkle, !,
hardly worth nootice, but the d
vers answer it promptly; and again e
ere Is a strong ring at the further end
the long room that makes the mast "a
hand grab up the big megaphone and 7
eak hastily to the men in the yard t
low. h
"A big train-load of scenery up a
ove!" he calls out, then jumps back 81
his levers as promptly as possible u
signal minute or two later gives the II
lrning that a funeral special is to be t'
divided for. All Is movement h
d alertness within the tower ! f6
lere those eight men work hand al
er hand at their puleys and look To
for the business of the moment and III
! business to come with almost suDer- p'
man accuracy; but outside, where "
trains and locomotives are beirg IN
fled about at the bidding of the lev m
it is equally interesting. The tower tf
ndows command view on all sides; dt
observer being able to take only a TT
TT of the general panorama. Here ST
two trains ready to start out q min In
apart, the engines standing neck &C
neck like horsese alert for a race, the sV
Omen watching the signals that will ar
them go. Up at the narrow en- III
nee to the yard waits an inbound es
in eager to get home, but locked m
{ until track can be cleared for it, IN
4 ~