Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-02
NO MORE COLLISIONS
RAILROADS WILL BE SAFE IF
NEW INVENTION WORKS.
German Government Makes Successful
Test-Engineers Warned Of
Danger by Telephone.


Owing to the many railroad accidents re-
Gently in this country the masnates VI
American railway systems are much inter-
ested in a report of Frank H. Mason, con-
sui general Of the United States at Berlin
to the interstate commerce commission.
The report describes new and mover
safety device for railways. which Is being
tested by the German authorities.
This electrical device is designed to pre-
vent collisions between railway trains. ana
the latest advices from Berlin state that
the tests on one Of the governmental lines
near Frankfort, in the presence OF ooard
of experts, were successful. Since any I'M
provement which can effectively reduce the
danger of accident in railway travei ap
peals SO directly to popular interest a oi'ei
account of this new device Is given.
1t is the joint invention of Hubert Pnr-
mann and Max Wendorf, and Its construc-
ton and operation is thus described by
Consul General Mason: Midway petWeeh
the rails is laid light third rail- OF the
ordinary L pattern, the joints OF which
are so connected as to form a continuous
conductor. Midway under the rorwaro
part of the engine is hung the WORKING
instrument, an electrical apparatus In
closed in a square case or Jacket occupy
Ing a cubic foot of space. The instru-
ment is connected with a contact shoe,
which slides along the third rail and by
wires with a telephone and electric alarm
bell in the cab Of the locomotive, and q
red incandescent lamp, which Is lighted
by the same impulse that rouses the
alarm bell into action. A further Inn
provement of the device sets the electric
brakes on the engine or entire train 81.
which sounds the bell and lights the red
lamp.
THE apparatus is so adjusted and ar
ranged that the engineer can at any mo
ment, by touching a lever, satisfy himself
that 1t Is in full working condition. The
recent tests were conducted on the main
line from Frankfort to Hanau, and a trans
lation of the official report will illustrate
concisely the working of the apparatus.
Stood the Test.
1.-TWO locomotives had been equipped with
the new device. Engine 29O. drawing a
special train, and approaching Sachsenhau-
sen station at full speed, received the dam
ger signal and came to a full stop. the
engineer of 900 then asked by telephone the
cause of the signal, and received from the
keeper Of a grade crossing. hail mie Al
front, word that a wagon had broken down
in crossing the track and INSTRUCTED the
line. Aften ten minutes wait the engineer
of go received word by telephone that the
obstruction had been cleared away ana
thereupon resumed his trip.
"A mile further on the signal on 20
again sounded, and the engineer was In
formed by telephone. as before that tne
semaphore round curve, ana more .hah
half a mile distant was set at halt Ihere-
upon engine go slowed down and proceed
ed cautiously, sounding its whistle at short
intervals. the telephone bell IN the engl-
neer's cab ringing continuously until ,he
curve was rounded, when the ringing
ceased, notifying the engineer that the sem
aphore had changed to track clear There
upon 200 resumed full speed.
I'm the tests to prevent coliision engine
1870 came up rapidly from behind on the
same track as 900. which had slowed down
and was proceeding cautiously In conse-
uuence of reported danger In front. Inc
moment that 1920 came WITHIN 1'U9o yaros
of $40 the signal on both engines began TO
ring and their red lights to glow Ihere.
upon 1920 halted, the engineer inquired or
go in front, the cause Of the alarm. and
complete understanding between the TWO
trains was Immediately established.
Warning is General
IAN important point in this connection Is
that in practice the same warning signal Is
sounded upon every engine equipped with
the apparatus which is on the same track
and within the prescribed radius-a kiiome-
ter or a mile, as the case may be-from the
engine and train which cause the obstruc-
ton. If a semaphore signal be falsely set
at safety the train may run past IL INTO
block in which another engine is halted or
moving with perfect security that warning
will be given in ample time to prevent a
collision under any and all conditions of
darkness, fog, storm or mistaken instruc-
tons.
I'm effect this invention puts the engi-
neer of every train into instantaneous
touch with other trains, switchmen and
station and crossing keepers in his neigh
borhood, and keeps ever before his eye and
ears an automatic and infallihle signal.
which springs into activity the moment
that his locomotive, whether running for
ward or backward. comes within the radius
of danger from collision.
What CHASTITY wrecks might be spared,
concludes Consul General Mason, what
precious lives saved, what a sense of added
security given to multitudes of railway
travellers, what delays avoided, by device
which puts the man behind the headlight
rushing on through night and fog and
storm into instant and unerring touch with
those whose duty it is to watch and guard
the safety of the line"
The government Of Russia has obtained
license to test in actual service on Its new
military lines In Siberia this new invention.