The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-08-23
THE TRAIN BELL ROPE.
How II and the Conductors Supremacy
Came to Be Established

Although there does not seem to be
anything in common between pugilism
and railroad rules, yet the adoption Of
the familiar bell rope that stretches
through every car Of the modern train
was the result Of fstlc encounter. At
the same time and by the issue OF the
same combat the supremacy Of the con-
ductor I'm railroad travel was ordained.
1t was Philadelphia which gave both
10 the world.
One OF the oldest railroads I'm the
country Is the Philadelphia, Whining
ton and Baltimore, now known as the
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washing
ton, which was opened in 1897. The
terminus In Philadelphia was at Broad
and Prime streets-Prme street now
being known as Washington avenue
and after crossing the Schuylkill river
at Gray's Ferry the route ran along the
Delaware river on what is now the
Chester line Of the Reading railway.
The first schedule contained one pas
sengcr train, which went 10 Baltimore
one day and came back the next, which
was considered a remarkable feat I'm
rapid travel. When n train day each
way was placed in service the people
OF the two cities served concluded that
the acme Of convenience I'm transporta-
ton had been reached.
Next 10 the president Of the railroad
the most important functiOnaries were
the engineer and conductor. II was
question whether or not the head Of
the line was not considered Il subsidi-
airy officer In popular estimation to the
men who ran the train, but Robert
Fogg who pulled the throttle, and
John Wolf, who collected fares won
the Difference OF the public because OF
their high and responsible duties.
Fogg, an EngllShman, had all the
tenacity of opinion Of his race Wolf,
an American, had the ingenuity Of the
Yankee and, seeing the need of some
method by which ne could communi-
cate with the engineer, devised the
scheme of running cord through the
cars to the locomotive. AS the engine
was "A wood burner, Wolf fastened one
end Of the cord to log, which was
placed on the engineers seat and was
pulled TO the floor when the conductor
desired TO signal for stop.
Fogg resented what he considered an
Interference with his rights on the
platform OF the locomotive and on the
first run out from Broad and Prime
streets with the new device paid no
heed 10 the displacement of the log
from the seat when the conductor de.
sired to take on passenger from
farm near Grays Ferry, but sped on
over the bridge and did not dcign TO
bring his engine TO n stop until Blue
Bell station, on the south side of the
Schuylklll had been reached. Then
he demanded 10 know of Wolf why he
had been jerking that log all about the
locomotive.
Wolf hotly declared that he had sig
nailed To stop. but FOgg rctOrtcd that
he would stop when and where he
pleased and that, too without any ref
whom he did not regard rs his superior
In the management OF the train. The
alteration grew very heated. and Wolf
invited the engineer from the cab TO
settle the matter, and the challenge
was quickly accepted.
Passengers and group of men who
had gathered Mt the station 10 see the
train~Comc In formed n ring about the
combatants, but the fight did not last
long. as Wolf proved 10y far the SUI
pcrior artist with his fists and with
a few blows made II almost impossible
for the engineer To see sumcicntly TO
complete his run, but Fogg admitted
that he had been fairly beaten, and the
supremacy of the conductor on train
was settled for all time.
AS the log signal was crude and In
effective, Wolf devised the use of a
bell on the locomotive, and this method
was soon adopted 10y all of the Amer-sI
lean railroads. Then Il code OF sig
nails was adopted. and these remain
practically to this day. The only
change In the bell cord is that 10y use
of the air from the brake system Il
whistle has superseded the bell I'm the
locomo ot IVC Cob - -philnIplnhio I aIror