The Tucumcari news. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-06-30
DUTY OF THE SWlTCHMAN.
Managing the Intricate system
Which Controls an Ele-
waited Junction.

IIish above the network OF elevated
tracks and switches at the Ihirty-
sixth street junction station OF the
Rrooklyn Rapid Transit lines, even
above the roofs Of the station sheds
themselves. stands Il small. steel con
structcd box house perChed on the
TOP of two tall iron pillars. The walls
are pierced by so many windows OF
such unusual dimensions that al hrst
glance it would appear that the walls
are made entirely OF glass. This
house saws the New York Tribune,
is the new electrical switch tower,
from which the intricate system OF
switches controlling the main New
York line, the TWO junction lines u n
ming to Bay kidge and Coney Island
and the ladder tracks Of both the new
and the old train yards are operated
by means of a costly electrical device
The interior OF this offers a
striking contrast to the old-fashioned
type. where there was a double row
OF huge iron levers, 10 swing which
the strength of i've men was some
times required. Here the small. ron
veniently placed electric levers can be
turned with the strength OF n nm
ger. The switchboard occupies the
center OF The room. having been built
in such a position that the operators
standing before ii have an uninter-
ruptcd view of both the incoming and
outgoing tracks Of all the lines. On
this switchboard the levers are ar
ranged in a double row II below the
other. 80 in all. The handles OF the
bottom row are painted red and con
troll the boards OF the semaphores.
The handles Of the top row are paint
ed blue and black and control the
switches and the switch locks. BY
this means. if a switch Is to he turned,
the operator first swings the upper
lever. which throws and locks the
switch itself, and hen swings the
lower lever. which drops one or the
other OF the semaphore boards as the
case may he, thus giving the signal
for the train 10 proceed on its way.
Directly in front Of The operators
rs they stand by the levers IS an ex-
act reproduction in miniature OF the
tracks. switches and crossovers con-
tanned in the ground plan 81 that sec
ton OF the road. In the miniature
lh' tracks are represented by little
brass strips. and the positions OF the
switches, senpphOres and dwarf sig
nails are painted and numbered on the
background of the reproduction. The
entire device is electrically connected
with the switchboard. When the OPP
orators, therefore, turn Il switch on
IN" regular tracks. the corresponding
switch in the miniature turns also, so
mat IN" operators can see at a glance
what has been the result of their ac-
liun, and II by any chance the mechan-
ism should have gone wrong they can
take steps 10 rectify il Immediately.
After $50 o'clock in the morning.
or, in other words. when the morning
rush hour has come 10 an end. the
train dispatcher begins 10 reduce the
o of service on the road from
SIN 10 three cars all around. These en-
IRA cars have To he cut out promptly
ana sidetraCked at either the Culver
depot or At the yards of the Thirty.
sixth street station. Here they re.
main and undergo a careful inspection
unlil the evening rush hour begins al
shortly after -four o'clock. when the,
ar" again taken out Of the yards anc
impressed into the regular service rc
meet the increased demand.