Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1907-12-30
FOR CONTROL OF THE TRAIN
WRITER URGES NECESSITY OF
AUTOMATIC SYSTEM.
Danger of Engineer Being Stricken
With Illness While In His Cab
Is Very Real.

On the physical ana mental condi-
ton of the locomotive engineer de-
pend the safety of his train and the
lives of the passengers, says writer
in the Literary Digest. What VIII
happen If he suddenly dies or is taken
i'll? This question is discussed sporad-
ically in the press, and certain types
Of locomotive in which the fireman and
engineer are widely separated, leav-
ing the latter practically alone in his
cab. have been condemned on this
ground. An editorial writer in the
Railway and Engineering Review
Chicago, July 20 regards 1t as re-
markable that so few accidents have
happened from trains running with
out control, caused by the sudden i'll
ness or sudden death of engineers at
their posts. He says;
Occasionally an instance OF this
kind has occurred, and in times past
then. that an extra employee be sta
toned on each locomotive, like the
lookout ON ship, with no other duty
than that of constantly watching
ahead for obstruction. Such plan
would discover anything wrong with
the engineer in proper time, but the
idea has never found lavor from prac-
teal considerations. Nevertheless,
every recurring instance of the sud
den Interpretation of an engineer sug-
gests grave possibilities of an accl-
dent. How many of the accidents
from unexplainable causes might have
happened in this way is at least an
interesting thought to reflect upon
| The facts of experience are sufficient
| " numerous to uphold a view of the
reasonableness of such thoughts.
During the early part Of this month
we reported collision which occurred
on the Mobile & Ohio railroad caused
! by the engineer Of passenger train
falling unconscious at his post, the
train running past station where
! stop should have been made, and the
\ fireman not discovering what was
wrong In time to stop the train before
| collision with a switch-engine oc.
| Cured Recently the engineer OF a
passenger train of the Lake Shore &c
Michigan Southern railway, approach
| ing Cleveland was overcome by heat
and fell unconscious at the throttle.
Fortunately the fireman observed the
| engineers condition In time 10 pre-
vent accident to the train. During
the same week the engineer OF a
! freight train on the Chicago Rock Is
land & Pacific railway is reported to
have become suddenly insane, and ran
| his train a considerable distance at
extraordinary speed, In fear of an
imaginary enemy in pursuit, in spite
of vigorous efforts of his fireman to
prevent him. Eventually the head
brakeman returned from a trip to the
| rear. and he and the fireman over
powered the unfortunate man and as
sumed control of the train. Accord
ing to the newspaper reports this en-
gineer had just recovered from a
spell of sickness and had gone out on
| his regular run without displaying any
evidence of his mental condition. We
have not taken pains to verify this
report, and while the account may be
exaggerated, it is not nevertheless an
indispensable case; and an insane
man at the throttle might, for obvious
reasons, be more dangerous at a crit
| ical moment than dead man.
While known occurrences Of the
character stated have been but few
comparatively speaking, yet they have
been numerous enough, it woult
seem, to call for careful consideration
OF means Of protection, AS visible
signals alone would evidently be O.
no avail in such cases, unless the fire
man CHANGED to notice the non.
observance Of them, the argument fol
automatic control of train fits such
emergencies with peculiar adaptable
ity."