Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-25
BY ELECTRIC SYSTEM
OPERATION OF B. AND o. TRAINS
WITH NEW SIGNALS.

The block station at Takoma Park. on
the Metropolitan branch of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad was "cut out this
morning at $50 O'Clock and hereafter
trains will be operated under the new
electric system of signaling being in
stalled by the railroad company.
The station at Takoma will be continued
as ticket and freight Office. Operator
Milton w. Phillips, who had charge of
dispa itching trains at that point. was re-
iieved of the responsibility by the inaugu-
ration of the new system today. He will.
however, continue as agent of the Balti-
more and Ohio road at Takoma Park.
change has also been made in the work
ing hours. the and o. railroad being
the first to comply with the new nine-hour
law According to the interstate COM
merce commission, the law Will become
effective March L. 1t prohibits railroads
from requiring or permitting their tel
egraphers to work more than nine hours
a day.
At Chestnut avenue two poles have been
erected. each being supplied with two tar
gets for the operating of east and west
bound trains under the new electric sys-
tenn. The block station" at Silver Spring
will not be abandoned, but will constitute
one of the blocks. With the adjustment
of the tower at Takoma Park electric tar
gets have been erected at Lamonds sta
ton, Stotts station, Rhode Island and
University stations. The targets are
worked by the train as it enters and
leaves block
When Train Enters Block.
The targets will show clear when a
train enters block and as soon as the
rear of the train has passed into a block
both targets on the pole will go to red,
indicating that the block is closed to an
oncoming train. The two red targets will
remain in that position until the next
signal pole is reached, when one will drop
to clear leaving the remaining target
red" When a moving train reaches the
next block, the second target drops to
clear" The targets or signals are placed
about a mile apart along the road and are
operated by. electricity.
The work of placing the poles and wires
in position is progressing along the Met
ropolitan branch and it is expected that
the entire line from the Union station to
/. The system has been completed be-
l. The system has been complied be-
tween Baltimore and Washington on the
main line and is said to be working in a
satisfactory manner. The system Will
later be extended as far as Philadelphia.
All switches. along the line are also to
be connected with the system so that a
train on a sidetrack cannot get on the
main track when a moving train is in a
block The switches become locked by
the electrical devices and remain in that
condition until train has passed, when
the switch is automatically unlocked and
a. train on a siding released.
Poles win be erected on both sides OF
the tracks SO that the engineer may OBJ
serve the signals at all times without
calling on the fireman for signals on the
opposite side.
Operators will be stationed in the tow
ers at Silver Spring. Rhode Island ave-
nue. and University. Under the new sys-
tenn the tower at Forest Glen has also
been abolished, leaving four towers
manned by operators between Washing
ton and Germantown.