The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-07-11
MILLION DOLLARS
FOR BLOCK SIGNALS
This Sum Has Been Expended
by the Oregon Short
Line.
OVER 1000 MILES
EQUIPPED WITH DEVICE
Entire System viii Soon Be
Equipped With the Block
Signals.

over looo miles of the Oregon Short
i1ine system has been equipped within
the last year, or is in course of BEING
equipped. with that excellent safety
device, the block signal. The cost Of
thiS installation approximates 81 0oo.-
Ooo, considerable sum. but 4 necos.
sary one, TO be expended for the safety.
OF the travelling public.
From Green River, Wyo.. TO Sharks
NeV, distance of 713 miles. the in
s'allation is virtually completed. Block
signals are now being installed from
Granger to McCammon, distance Of
Isl miles, and will be completed bo.
iore the end Of the wear. From Me
CANNON TO Pocatello, twepty.tbrca
miles, the system is completed. Prep
aratlons are being made for the install
lahon of the system from Nampa 10
Huntington, eighty.two miles, and on
The stretch of track over Bidberry hill.
near GIenns Ferry, about thIrtv-seven
miles. thus the work OF euuippiug the
entire system with this device pro-
'c'ue
The oneration of the block signal is
com aratlvel y well known. Ut is op-
Grated by electric, pneumatic or other
agency sctuated by train completing
the circuit This can be done bv any
other agency, such as a land slide or
broken rail, which would close the
circuit and operate the signal, SO that
not only is the signal a protection
against accident, but also Il preventive
agency
>. A railroad system is divided into
olstrlcts with signal mGintalner in
enarge. district may be from ten to
cighteen miles IN length, this depends
upon the character of the territory
through which the line passes, The
district is subdivided into blocks. and
BLOCKS average from one and half
miles to three miles in length. At the
entrance TO each block there is a mast
with two signals or semaphores on il.
the home and distant signal. TO give
an Illustration OF the oneration of a
double signal; a train approaches
what is known as the home signal, that
is the block upon which the train is
about TO enter, and the two arms are
inclined downward; this indicates S'pro.
ceed, but should only the arm of the
home signal be inclined downward and
The arm of the distant signal IS cx-
tended horizontally this indicates FIRST
block ahead Is clear. proceed TO next
home block signal with train prepared
20 stop, - Something occupies the sec
md block, probably train is ON it or
some obstruction, but when the en-
slneer approaches the home signal it
viii Indicate whether the block is clear
and he proceed or whether it is blocked
ind he stop and ascertain the cause.
Hence il will be seen that almost com
'lete safety is insured.
1t is the intention Of the Hartman
'eople TO install on those parts of the
ystem where block signals have not
'een placed or are not being placed.
o install at the switches from The main
inc automatic signals so AS TO insure
.rcater safety and prevent accidents
n the event OF there being any defect
n the switch.
a special signal department has been
reated on the Oregon Short Line svs-
EN- and n corns OF competent officials
ave been placed in charge,