New-York tribune., 1902-08-09
NEW SIGNALS IN THE TUNNEL
LIGHTS SHOWN WITHIN THE ENGINES
CAB BY NEW SYSTEM

The signal system which is being installed IN
the NewYork CentraPs Park-ave tunnel was
tested yesterday at 8 p. n a round trip
through the tunnel observation engine No
2S which has been equipped with the electric
signal The system consists in transferring both
danger and clear signals shown by the serna
phore to the inside of the moving cab where
they are indicated in red and white incandescent
bulbs The yelling Of track signals by smoke
or fog is thus robbed of danger, because the en-
gineer has them duplicated under his nose
The system. while working in conjunction with
the present block signal system. works also in
dependentIy for il the block ahead is Occu-
pied the danger light is SHOWN in the cab, what
ever the position of the track signals may be.
On the other hand, danger light shows in the
cab whenever the block signal is so placed,
whether the track be occupied or not Any
failure in the wiring arrangement along the
track results in showing a danger light in the
engine and the absence OF any light in the bulbs
is indication that the apparatus is out OF
order the engine. and is tantamount TO the
danger light. Even should this occur. small
semaphore in the apparatus carried would still
give the proper indications Thus the system
gives due warning unless the apparatus is
damaged utterly and this would be a once
evident.
tro-magnet machine which, upon receiving the
current of the track circuit conducted through
the fore wheels of the tender. establishes
circuit through the signal bulbs for inde-
pendent Illuminating current supplied by small
dynamo carried the engine. An arnature
IN this machine playing between two electro
ma gnets governed by the track circuit current
makes connection for the red light the white
The wiring along the route is so devised as to
allow the section of track at the opening OF a
block, segregated by insulating Weber joints,
TO be Influenced by the condition Of the circuit
in the second block ahead. The presenc- Of
wheels on the rails short circuits the block at
that point thus breaking the current in the
wires to the rear blocks. releasing the armatures
of electro gnets in the wiring. and changing
the polarity Of the current
This electrical condition is transferred 10 the
entrance of the second block below. so that an
engine coming upon that part Of the track. with
the signal burning white. would receive a cur
rent breaking the white light circuit and estao-
fishing the red. An overlap Of eight hundred
feet is provided at the beginning OF the block
and there the signal is reiterated When the
train ahead leaves its block, the track circuit
is restored in the rails. the opposite current Is
transmitted through the wiring 20 the rear, ana
the rear engine gets a clear signal again IN
this way the space Of a block IS kept clear by
signals in the cabs of the moving engines
The installation Of the system in the Park
ave. tunnel was complicated by the necessity
of maintaining undISLuTOeC Lne oiueF tTdCh SA7
nal system for he foreign" engines not
equipped with the electric receiving signal
The tracks i'll the tunnel have now been proper
Il outftted and il only remains 10 equip Che
engines with their apparatus
Those who rode IT the engine on the trial ZIP
besides representatives Of the morning news
papers were ". c. Brown. third vice president
of the Central, Ira A Mccormack. assistant
manager Of the Harlem line. George H Danlels
general passenger agent, 4. c. Miller. the m
ventor OF the system and Mr.. Price. mis- super
intendent of construction