Evening journal., 1906-10-16
SURPRISE TESTS
FOR ENGINEERS
How the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Keeps Tabs on
its Men


PHILADELPHIA. Pa. Oct. 1s-In
view of the frequent statements, sug-
gested by the accident which occurred |
at Eddington. Penn, on September %.
that It is the practice OF Pennsylvania |
Railroad enginemen to disregard eau
ton" signals in their efforts to make
a schedule run or make up for lost
time, taking the chance that the stop"
signals will be clear for them, the com
pany makes public the fact that for
several years it has been an elaborate
system OF surprise tests" the precise
purpose of which was and is to make
enginemen constantly on their guard
against collisions and accidents. SO
strict, indeed, is this system that some
cnginemen have complained Of It.
As regards this particular accident,
the two Coroner's juries which lnvestl-
gated it have each returned verdlcts
exonerating the company and its em-
ployes from blame. It was shown that
the collision was due to the failure OF
air brakes to work. It was found that
the signals were set properly, and that
in passing the caution" signal, but by
reason Of an angle cock being turned
between the third and fourth cars, the
air brakes did not work on the last
three cars on the train. The angle
cock in question is Of the standard
pattern adopted by the principal air
brake companies, and is in use on all
railroads.
Surprises Are Real.
Surprise checking" which was in
stituted to make engineermen always
alert, consists in requiring certain Of
fcials at unusual times and unexpected
places to set signals at a caution" or
danger" position, and citation them
selves so that they may see II proper
observance is given to the signals.
In order TO understand the exact
significance of this method OF testing
enginemen. it should be noted that
automatic signals are controlled by the
train and human agency has nothing
to do with their operation. They are
located between telegraph block signal
stations. The telegraph block signal
system and the interlocking switch and
signal system each require an operator
to manipulate. The automatic signgls
do not require an attendant.
At block signals stations. the rules
Of the company require that the oper-
ator shall report TO the proper officials
any engineman not properly observing
all signals. With the automatic block
signal system. however, the signals are
located between these offices where
there is no one to report non-obsorv-
saF atr~ fH IA
surprise checking was established.
PennsyIvania's Signals.
In automatic signalling on the Penn
sylvania Railroad, two signals appear
to the engineman. The "home" sig
nal is with reference to the block i'm
mediately ahead. II that shows
white" he may proceed. II it shows
red" he must come to a stop before
passing the signal. If he passes the
signal by as much as FIVE feet. he has
violated orders, and is, therefore, sub
jeet to discipline. Each home" sig
nal has its distance signal which in
dicates whether its home" signal is
clear or not, and displays either
white" or green"
Green" is a caution" signal, and
requires the engineman to get his train
under control so that he can stop at
the home" signal This, does not
necessarily mean that the train must
slow down Immediately. II it can pass
a caution" signal at a high rate Of
speed and still be able to stop at the
next signal. Caution" does not mean
stop"
In surprise checking" distance sig
mails are set at green" home" signals
at red" at places where the engineers
are accustomed to find them white, -
fuses are displayed, and torpedoes are
placed on the track at unusual places,
switch lights extlnguished and every
thing in connection with signalling a
trains is placed either at a caution
or danger" position, there being nc
danger in fact. As strict observance
Of these signals are required as II they
had been displayed in a caution" OF
danger" position by the regular oper-
alton Of the train on the road. II
any engineman disregards any Of these
signals. whether there is q train ahead
or not, they are disciplined just the
same.
It is the well-settled principle Of the
Pennsylvania management that negli-
gence which might cause an accident
. is almost. If not quite, as serious as
II the accident really occurred.
Surprise checking has been con-
Quoted with great thoroughness especi-
ally during the past year. Notable
occasions OF this character occurred al
certain stations on August 4th. August
2Sd, August oath. october Sd and Octo-
Der 5th. On these several occasions
total Of POI trains passed the signal
stations during the tests, and all but
fifteen came to full stops before reach
ing the testing point.
Every one Of the fifteen delinquent:
brought his engine to a full stop be-
fore getting more than a few feet be-
yond the signal. But even in these
cases. where the error was simply ons
of judgment in handling the DIR brakes
every one Of the engineers were severe.
ly disciplined-in some cases as muci
as thirty days suspension being i'm.
posed. The caution" signal meant
caution" and the stop" signal meani
: stop" Absolute compliance with the
order is required Of all enginemen.