The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-05-14
INTERLOCKINC
TOWER INSTALLED
E N TIRE MOVEMENTS OF
EVERY TRAIN RUNNING IN
AND THROUGH PLY
MOUTH TO BE CON-
TROLLED BY THIS
STATION.

The interlocking tower, with all of
its complicated signals, levers,
switches and derailers, has been final
ly completed, and was put into
operation Wednesday morning at $3.50
o'clock The tower is situated on the
south side of the Pennsylvania tracks,
at the crossing of the l.. L. & w.
Since the tower was put In operation
the movement of every train, on all
three roads, the Pennsylvania, the l..
E. & W., and the Vandalia, in and
out of this city is entirely con-
trolled by levers, electrical switches
etc, operated in the tower. Not a
single switch will be operated by the
train crews-the movements OF all
trains, either in running through the
city or in switching on various side
tracks will be governed by large and
small signals, which will indicate to
the engineer how to run his train.
1t will be impossible for a collision
to occur where the Vandalia and L..
f. & w. roads cross the Penna.
Should train on either of the three
roads disregard signal, and volun-
'tarily or involuntarily proceed to the
cossing, while another train was pass
ing. the first train will be derailed,-
thrown from the track and thus pre-
vent a wreck similar to what occurred
at that same crossing a couple of
years ago.
Within the tower there are s4 lever
machines, with GA working levers.
These levers will operate all switches,
derails, home and distant signals, and
dwarf signals on all three railroads.
The complete movements of all trains
will be governed from this place. The
distant signals on the Penna. are sit
uated one mile east, and one and one
half mile west of the tower respect
lively. These two far signals are op-
Grated electrically The distant sig-
nails on the other two railroads are
located about a half-mile, both ways
from the tower. These "dist"nt sig
nails" as they are called, will desig-
nate to the incoming train, whether
the road and crossings are clear or
obstructed. If obstructed the train
must proceed in, under control until
given further orders bv the home
signal" If the track is still obstruc.-
ed the home signal orders the train
to stop, but, if by reason OF loss OF
control, the train should continue
toward the crossing, it will be derail-
ed by an appliance for that purpose.
The home signal on the west side OF
the Penna. is located on steel bridge
which is built over the tracks. 1t II
probable that a similar one will be
located on the east side.
To switch a train from one track
to anofher,or from one railroad to
another, each movement is carried
out by series of levers. The tower
is supplied with large chart, Illus.
trating to the operators the series
of levers to be worked, in order TO
carry a train through each movement.
Some of these movements are very
complicated, requiring fifteen or
twenty shifts in the tower. The sig
nails are shown with semaphores by
day, and with lights by night.
The telegraphing for all three rail-
roads and also for the Western
Union, will be done in the new tower.
Three railroad telephones will be
used in signal work A large switch
board with A strapboards, has been
installed. This tower will be test
ing station for the Western Union
Telegraph Co.. and for this purpose
will have two complete extra sets OF
instruments.
The operators who will be in
charge of this tower will be Oron F.
Hoover, f. c. Beckner, L. J. Girten,
B. Miltenberger, and lamp man Mr.
Turney.
Work was started on the interlock-
ing plant last fall, and has been con-
tinued ever since. The total cost is
estimated at $4,000. The new ser
vice went into operation Wednes-
day morning at 9:3O o'clock
The state law provides that such a
plant must be inspected and accepted
by the state commission. Until this
is done which will probably be three
or four days, all trains on all roads
will be required to stop at their re-
spective home signals After inspec-
ton the trains will, with a clear
track, run through the city, up to
their stations, under speed
The system appears, with all OF its
appliances, to be perfection itself in
regard to railroad operating, the only
flaw. or accident which could possibly
occur would be through the fault oi
the operators, who must all be tried
and true men.