The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-13
RAILROAD NEWS.
Wireless Telegraph Messages to
Engine Cab.
Experiment on Union Pacific
Working Successfully.
RINGS DANGER GONG
Messages Received as Readily rs
on Land Stations.
Other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.

The control of running trains by
wireless telegraphy took a step for
ward when the Union Pacific railroad
! recently equipped one of its locomo-
tlves with United Wireless telegraph
instruments. With this device the
train dispatcher may sit at his desk
and send an order directly into the
cab of the engine when it is running
anywhere in the division. With this
machine working an end will come to
the accident resulting from some tele-
graph operators failure to deliver a
train order properly.
In an emergency with this device in
operation the train dispatcher simply
will touch his key and far out on the
railroad line in the cab of the locomo-
tive rushing into danger, a gong will
begin ringing and before the eyes of
the engineer a red light will flash,
while a miniature semaphore painted
red, will rise to the danger point and
both the engineer and fireman will
know there is deadly peril ahead for
themselves and their train.
Only one locomotive has been equip
ped with this machine. but so well
does it operate that it is only a ques-
ton of time when the entire system
will be fitted with the life-saving in
vention. With wireless stations all
along the line the dispatchers will be
in touch with every engine on the road
at all times.
But of greater Importance from a
life-saving view. point is the expert
ment recently tried on the Lake Shore
& Michigan Southern railroad, when
with the use of United Wireless OUT
fit, messages were exchanged between
a rapidly moving train and stations.
The train equipped with an antenna
strung along the entire length of the
IL cars, left Buffalo at $3.50 o'clock in
the morning. G. Schaefer was the Op-
orator in charge of the instruments on
TNs ~ =
he got in touch with the wireless sta
ton in that city. The train was going
SO fast the very slightest curve in the
track would throw the party of inter-
ested spectators watching the operator
from one side of the car to the other.
The train Travelled three miles from the
time the first tick was heard until
the message was complete The aero
CANT came clear and was easily receiv-
ed without interference from the roar
of the train.
Then Schaefer tried sending. With
hreathless interest the spectators
crowded around as the operator adj
justed his head phones. For moment
nothing was heard but the steady click
of the wheels on the steel rails. The
car swayed around at the sharp curve.
Then the operators face at once light
ened up with triumphant smile.
"They got it," he cried. Cleveland
says he can hear US as plainly as if
we were a regular land station. It's
a go as sure as you're born" Schaefer
was right. BY this feat the attention
of every railroad executive in the coun-
try has been attracted to the system
of wireless biography as a means for
safeguarding life. Charles E. Daily,
first vice president and general man
ager Of the New York Central has
that his company will in
stall wireless biography on the fast
TIVE ntieth Century Limited train at
once.
To demonstrate more effectively his
ability to transmit messages from
train Schaefer got into COM
with the station in Chicago. |
He received and sent. all told, 200 mes |
sages. At no time was the train out
of touch with wireless stations