The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-01-13
TO STOP RAILROAD ACCIDENTS

Engineering Magazine: The onl,
way by which the disregard of sig
nails ard rules a be prevented is 10y
making 1T physically impossible.
The engineer must have no discre-
ton as to whether he will stop OF
run past a block signal; be must be
stopped by mechanical device, the
release of which is beyond his on
troll.
The introduction of such devices is
not difficult or impracticable, and
there are other numerous methods by
which they may be effectively en-
ployed. The derailing switch is we'll
known, and no engineer WHO realiz-
es that the passage of d block signal
means the ditching of his train will
Willingly run into such a certainty.
This. however, is not sufficient. as
the engineer may not even realize
that the signal is set against him.
The setting of the block signal
should also set his brakes automat-
ically for him, if he disobeys the
warning, and hold him lgnominious-
~ stalled until he is released by the
opening of the block. The rear pro-
lection may be equally controlled by
setting a trip for the operation Of any
following train which may approach
within the danger limit, and thus
the element of discretion be wholly
eliminated.
In a certain large city there &C.
Cured several years ago, a number
OF accidents upon passenger elevators,
these being clearly traceable to the
practice OF the operators OF opening
and closing the doors while the car
was in motion. Like the current
methods of train operation, the rules
requiring the car to be brought to a
full stop before the door was opened.
and also requiring the closing of the
door before the car was started. were
generally ignored, and the results
were apparent in numerous and fatal
casualties.
By the passage of a suitable ordin-
ace 1t was made obligatory to equip
all passenger elevators With inter-
locking stops, which rendered it i'm
possible to start the car while any
door was unlocked, the hooking OF
tho door releasing the operating lever
In the car, and the presence OF the
car exactly opposite a given door be-
Ing necessary before the door could
be unlocked. at drst there vas
some delay in the service, but in a
very short time the operators became
as expert as they had formerly been
careless. and the cause OF the acct
dents was entirely removed.
The delegation Of responsibility to
employees is a matter OF great i'm
p%oitance, especially where human
safety IS involved; but 1T is entirely
practicable to limit it to positions
1T can be exercised without
fear OF favor.
In the case Of train operation. the
modern singal systems are designed
to-place the element Of responsibility
on the operator in the signal tower
and experience has shown that this
is all right. 10 permit ~disobedience
to the signals to nullify the safety
element in the whole system is both
a crime and a blunder, and until the
possibility OF the disregard of the
by the engineer is removed, no
rules, however carefully devised, can
te OF avail. The passage OF a block
signal by a train should be MADE
mechanically and physically impos-
'ible, and IN like manner should the
lpproach Of a train in the rear be
mechanically limited to a uetermined
distance.