The Washington times., 1907-03-08
SAFETY DEVICE
TO STOP TRAINS
Trap Near Block Trips the
Lever, Releasing
Throttle.
Protection Is Set When the
Target Shows
Red.
Invention of Washington
Man, George w.
Jayne.

George W. Jayne, a Washingtonian,
Is the inventor Of what may reVOlu-
tionize the block signal system in use
uDOn railroads and reduce the pOssi-
bilities of wrecks 20 a minimum Within
the last ten days leading officials Of
the Pennsylvania, Coast Line, and other
systems have examined the device and
expressed confidence in the invention,
and its practicability. one OF the Jayne
Improved Trips will be placed upon
locomotive of the Pennsylvania sys-
Jem and given a test within the next
few days.
The tests made FOR the officials at
the shops have been with a dummy
locomotive, and the device performed
every function claimed by its inventor.
The Jayne Improved Trip consists of
simple long steel rod. or bar, running
from about six inches from the ground
up through the floor of the locomotive
cab and past the throttle, air valve, and
sand release 1t hangs upon pivot the
device being fastened TO the bottom of
the locomotive proper within six inches
OF the main body of the locomotive.
The end Of this bar holds n wheel
about six inches in diameter. which
hangs just even with the travel level,
in the center OF the track This is all
that the device I'm itself consists of, a
simple affair, Weighing some $50 pounds.
Trip Stops Engine.
The device is made 10 90 its work b.
something which resembles a trap door,
placed in the center of the track, about
ZGO0 feet from every target. switch and
station on the railroad. When the TAR
get shows white. a continuation of the
wires leading from the operators tower
70 the target pole, permits this trap
door ike arrangement to lie fat uDon
the croSSteS- When the target shows
red. this trap. or trip. which is made
Of a heavy steel plate is elevated to
tpe level of the track. In the event the
engineer has failed 90 see the red tar
get or drops dead at his post no
sooner does the locomotive pass over
lnlS trap than II is struck by the tiny
wheel on the end Of the long perper-
ulcular bar, and in passing over the
elevation the bar is thrown forward
eff the pivot hits the throttle roIe1sa
me air and sand release. and the engine
stops, steam having been turned of and
air and sand turned on nv tha sbarD
blow inflicted by the automatic bar.
Just as long. as the red target shows.
the trip remains above the track level
and VIII give warning To anv engine
passing over II. On single tracks an
other trip is placed on the.opposite side
ot the target preventing approach from
The inventor claims that his device
viii work with any block signal system
whether il be adjusted by an operator
or oy mechanical appliances. The Sc
cret or the whole invention is that
whenever a white light is shown the
presence OF the trip is not felt: when
the red is shown the trip is raised Mt
me same moment and by the same
wires by which the target is set Once
raised no engine equipped with this
saiety appliance bar can pass over il.
unless the suspended wheel at it's end
strikes the elevation and throws the bar
forward of the pivot. impartinE a sharD
rap 20 the throttle and air release above.
Speed Experiments.
The inventor SAYS that i'm all over
fifty practical railroad men have exam
1ned his invention and Geen Il work
upon the improvised tracks. When ap-
piled 10 a regular locomotive for the
nnal tests. different speeds will be used
IN order TO determine just what distance
the trip must be placed from a station
IN order 20 obtain the best results. BY
having one Of these trips on each side
OF signal tower Mr.. Jayne SAYS that
even should an operator be asleep and
fan 10 throw the red light and the
Jayne trip as the train approaches, he
can correct his error and recall the en-
frarr