New-York tribune., 1907-12-02
SAFETY DEVICE PUT In.
WILL PREVENT WRECkS.
S;o1ol and .Szgitch Interlocking Plant
Installed by Lackascanno.

I'D svyitch interlockng plant
installed by the Lackawanna Isaliroau y, ar,tion
of the Hoboken terminal was pul li,'o . tbree
Yesterday morning at O'Clock. For the iasl -.
s.ta a. signaI department of the road uhue'
- 5irao+ton of NJ T. Smith. the sgnal ehsii-'
hos been revising the track. switches anu 90 -as
which had to be done before the ne" sys 81
,~.oued This task involved all the s"ltcie9 O. o..
tnentv miles of track in the yaru anu i0f -.
a., o-a.+,on of a new operating bnldlhs' Ii
which all the switches and signals In the Sfhiu 90
controlled. = ..t,g of
the signal and the locking of the sWitc'eS ~
the route of an incoming or outgoing ti"ii' -,
in the wards of the terminal and assuring d oie
track to the train while on that route NO 80 80
train can cross that route when tnese s"ieN'-O
are thus locked. and the signals or switches can
not be changed accidentally or by the opeIa'oi
while the train s on that route. one or the oi
ficals said that accidents or collisions by deiai
switches could not happen with this satety oe'I-
A email light the signal board oelore lii
operator is worked automatically when the Tram
masses over each switch of its route. and the move
rnents of the train noted after the SWITCHES
are locked.
party of the I4ackawailnas officials including
T E. Clark. the general superintendent; Lincoln
Bush chief engineer; George A. Cullen, gem
eral passenger agent and VI. e. Smith made
trip of inspection in Mr. Smiths private car over
the tracks in the yard yesterday test the opera
ton of the signal service the several
switches, and there not n hitch in the intri-
cate and delicate mechanism which operates the
system. An explanation of the switches and the
operating plan in the signal tower made by
the officials.
is called in the new system. there is track model
always in view Of the operator. showing a
small scale the tracks and switches in the yard.
Before the engineer receives his signal. which
covers his movements and from the terminal
shed. his route of tracks is arranged by the Oh
rector in the cabin who instructs the operator by
the letter and number OF the track. BY small hand
levers the operator sets the switches of the route
and signal al the same time After the train IS
on the route the operator in the cabin cannot pos
sibiy change the routing of the train any
OF the switches under the train until 1t is clear
OF the route outlined for 1: is also impossible
for any other train to strike the first train. the
latter must be clear of the first outlined
it before any of the switches of that route
be set for train crossing IL. The director in the
cabin Is informed of outgoing train by the yard
man. who presses button when the train is
ready to start Then the route is outlined for it
as Indicated by signal and all the switches OF that
route are locked simultaneously. The of
incoming train is likewise determined
The power used in operating the switches is COM
pressed air through twO-nch pipes leading TO the
switches. The movement of the switches is made
by piston operating in air cylinder. The Op-
erations in the air cylinder by OF 4
magnet which is electrically controlled. The power
Of these magnets opens the air valves in the
switches. applying the air In the cylinder to
move the switches In the cabin there SO
electrical relays used for routing and locking the
switches.
The whole signal system which is controlled by
l3l electrical levers. is operated hy three and
director. total force of twelve men in TWEEN
ty-fOur hours. With the old hand levers only
thrty-two switches could be operated in n tower
of the size now used to operate 13l. II was sail
by OF the officials that it would be impossible
to operate a big terminal. with its network of
-ff~J,n -~rEl-
nomcal method than used by the Lacka-
road
In the old days, when there was Il fagman at
every switch and the signals were complex. acci |
dents happened that are impossible now under the |
new electro pneumatic switch and signal interlock-
ing system. Besides the revision of the twenty !
miles OF track. sevefSzCe of insulated wire
were placed The cost ef installing the plant is
estimated at $900o0
This type Of nterlockng switches is being IN |