Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-14

cumed and thus enables the engineer to slow his train down before
reaching the home signal, which he cannot pass. To pass a signal
which indicates stop means a penalty of dismissal.
The traveller seated on the observation platform at the rear Of
a modern passenger train finds fascinating occupation in watching
notes a he passes that n sgnal covering n track on Wheh MS
train is running is set at the stop position and remains there till
long after it has gone out of sight, no matter how long the tangent.
He knows that before his train has left the zone protected by that
signal it has entered another and that the semaphore arm, respond
ing to the impulse of the locomotive, has risen to the horizontal posi-
ton, thus extending its absolute authority and granting to that train
right-of-way along that block of track. II the road happens to be a
doubletracked one he may occasionally sec the signal set on the OPP
poste track warning OF the approach OF another tram ana ne wl
also have the opportunity of watching the signal recede to the clear
position after the train has passed to another block. If it be a piece
of single track along which mis- train is moving he Will notice that
the signals on the right hand side of the track remain at the danger
position after his train has passed, while those on the left hand side
drop back to clear. This shows hin that the track is blocked for
trains proceeding in the same direction as his, but is cleared the
other way. The protection in this case is afforded by the fact that
as soon rs The train leaves the block that clears the track for a train
going in the opposite direction it sets the signal ahead, SD that it is
protected by the block at either end. This arrangement not only
guards against rear-end, but also head-on, collisions, and makes
travel very nearly as safe as human ingenuity can devise. At night
the lights are as interesting to watch as the semaphore arms by day
and the signals never fail to attract attention.
But even with this service. so nearly perfect that it seems no
other device would be needed to make assurance doubly sure, the
modern railroad practice has adopted a still additional safety ar
rangement. At the end of each frst-clas. train is stationed a flag
man, whose duty keeps him day or night at that post. He is
equipped with lanterns and flags, torpedoes and other signal appara-
tus, and whenever his train comes TO a stop, no matter where or
why, he is required to proceed to a safe distance to the rear to
guard against the possible approach of another train. Halt a mile
is about the usual distance. and there the fagman awaits until re-
called by a signal whistle. Before starting in, If by day, he attaches
two torpedoes to the rails, SO that the engineer of the next train
coming that way will be notified that a train ahead of him has
stopped within half a mile of the place, and thus give warning. II
by night, a fuse is lighted and left in the center of the track. This
burns with a clear, red light for fifteen minutes and affords ample
notice to any approaching train. Between these two plans the mat
ter of avoiding rear-end collisions is very nearly provided for. The
heavy trains, guarded at every possible point, go tearing through
the country, by day and by night, in safety as nearly absolute as can
be provided.
All of this advance has brought new elements into the work OF
railroadmg. The installation of the electric devices has made en-
ployment for the electrician and has provided occupation for hun
dreds of educated experts. who now give their time exclusively to
the maintenance and operation of this branch of the safety service.
The oldtime switch lights have not been abandoned. but are still
attended to by the station service, but the care of the block signals
falls OIL. the electricians and they are kept busy patroning the tracks
to see that all is working well. No station is SO remote o # 10 lonely
but it is visited periodically, its lights inspected, its connections ex-
amined and its workings thoroughly tested.
Napoleon once issued an order that no light should appear in his
camp during the night. Observing one dimly burning, he visited
the officers tent and demanded the reasons for disobedience. The
officer in confusion told the great commander that he had simply
written a letter to his young wife. Napoleon told him to open 1t
and add that before she had received the letter he would be shot for
disobedience of orders, The same principle applies to the running
Of block signals set at stop.