The Washington herald., 1907-08-31
new DEVICE TESTED
Interstate Board Attends the
Trial of Block System.
PROVES HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL
Buell. Cab Signal and Train Control
Invention Practically Demon
strated on Tracks of Southern
Raiiway-SpeciaI Train Equipped
for Purpese-Gives Visible Alarm.

The Interstate Commerce Commission
block signal and train control board
consisting OF Mortimer e. Cooley, chair
man: Azel Ames. IT,. Frank G. Ewald.
B. B. Adams. and Secretary W. P. Bore
land, attended an official test Of the Buell.
cab signal and train contrGl system on
the Southern Railway yesterday.
The committee, which has been holding
a session in this city for the purpose Of
investigating and reporting TO Congress
on the use and necessity OF block signal
systems. seemed much pleased with the
results Of the experiments. although it
was not prepared TO give out any definite
statements.
A special train was provided by the
Southern Railway which was equipped
with the Buell. system. On reaching a
long curve at Cameron Run. Va, and
while maintaining a speed of nearly forty
miles an hour. a danger signal was re-
ceived aboard the train and In the engine
cab. The signal consisted of both visible
and audible alarms. The visible is a red
bulls-eye which flashes up and remains
lighted until the engineer puts it out. The
audible signal consists OF q whistle
simultaneously and as a unitary part Of
the signal operation was the automatic
application Of the air brakes. The brake
action was not Of the emergency sort, but
began moderately and continued with pro-
4 gressive force until the train was stopped.
Brings Train to standstiIl.
The foregoing operation insured the
safe bringing Of the train 10 a stand
stiu many yards before the obstruction
was reached. The train was stopped in
a few seconds after the signal was given
After the block had been cleared and
the engine which was obstructing II had
been ordered farther away the train
again ran over the block, but this time
got no signal since the block was clear
A mile farther down the track the road
way signal was approached at high rate
of speed and was found to display dan
ger signal beside the track. The en-
gineer on the equipped train, being in
structed to ignore this signal, passed H..
and again the train was arrested auto
matically.
While the engineer under this system
cannot interfere with the automatic ar
rangement Of the apparatus, II Is not IN
tended to sGpplant that official or take
from him any measure. of his control over
the engine.
Warns Against All Obstruction.
According TO Mr.. Buell., the inventor.
the principal business Of this system IS
not only TO prevent collisions at curves
and all other points. but misplaced
switch broken rail, or partially open
drawbridge will be revealed also. Tracks
covered with earth or any other Obstruc-
ton will slso be shown by the lights in
the engine.
The scheme is TO transfer the signal
lights from the tracks and signal houses
to the engine cab, SO that the engineer
is not forced to look out of his window
at any time, and so that he viii have
10 see the signal before it is allowed
10 go out The system is electrically
controlled and operated. and depends for
its action on the track circuit and the
presence Of the wheels on the rails.
Every contingency is said 10 have been
provided for, and, in the opinion Of many
who witnessed the tests yesterday, the
system was absolutely successful