Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
GREAT BOON TO TRAVELLERS
wireless Telephone and Train stop
ping Devices Work
Wonders,

Wireless telephony applied to movinl
trains was demonstrated yesterday to b,
a success on an Erie train running a
thirty miles an hour between Newark anC
South Paterson, N. j. The operators talked
without interruption with operators OF
either end Of the run, and officials Of thu
Erie who participated in the demonstra
ton were delighted with the results. The
inventor. Fred Leoroix, said his system
when perfected will permit or conversation
from a train running at cannonball speed
within a radius Of 1000 miles.
His confident statement was relied upor
implicitly by the officials who witnessed
the test yesterday. The wireless telephone
was operated from the engine cab. Thu
electric current is taken up from a small
third rail at the side Of the track. Per.
lection OF the system, It is said will reduc
almost to zero the possibilities of train accl.
dents by attachments in the cab that show
when a train is stalled ahead and indicates
how distant IT is. Another device operates
the air brake attachments the instant the
recorder shows there is a stalled or de-
rallied train within two miles ahead. The
road officials pronounce it a marvellous
invention.
Lecroix, the inventor. is little more than
a youth. He is t~wenty-four years old and
looks younger. He learned electrical en-
cheering in Texas, and is said to have a
remarkable comprehension OF the broad
subject. While the test yesterday was con-
fined to the engine cab the development
OF the invention means that a man in a
Pullman sleeper may be aroused from
slumber to answer a call and talk to his
mother, wife, sweetheart or usine friend
Il Ann waf1na au~auF Tk N9 -w,asaNAa A. g----
ton will be as wonderful in its develop
ment as wireless telegraphy; and it's ac-
compartment. the device to prevent rail-
road accidents, makes it the more remark
able.
The third rail which carries the power
for the Lecrolx system OF wireless tele-
phony it not deadly" as a person may
walk upon it without receiving the slight
est shock. The test was watched
by a few road officials and several news
paper men. They crowded INTO the engine
cab, as many as could find standing room
at one time. They found a receiver and
transmitter much like the ordinary tele-
phone attachments on the side Of the cab.
Close by were the dials and attachments
OF the device for sounding the Warming
OF danger ahead.
The members OF the party first talked
through the transmitter to a train dis
patcher at either end OF the line and re-
ceived messages in response. The train
was running at twenty miles an hour, then
the speed was increased five miles. and
then to thirty miles. There was not the
slightest interruption Of the conversation
even at the moment the speed was in
creased. To make the test severe the speed
was increased quickly. so that the cab
shook and the cars wRbbled, but there was
no interruption OF the talk.
The wireless telephone having been tested
to the satisfaction OF the officials, the
train stopping device was demonstrated
The train was run In close upon a passen.
ger train and the moment the danger zone
was reached, the engineer having his griT
on the lever, the air-brake attachment was
operated automatically and the trair
stopped within fifty feet, when running a
twenty-five miles an hour There was NJ
sudden jar; II came to a ~standstill grad,
ually.-New York Press.