The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-05
Pennsylvania Has 4Z3 Equip
ped With Fire-fighting
Apparatus.
IT'S ALTOONA EQUIPMENT
road HAS A COMPLETE SYSTEM
or MAINS AND APPARATUS OF
IRA OWN TO PROTECT ITS
LARGE PROPERTY.

PA1l0OoIpuld, ocpI =. ~ 0cSOA $4,000
the efficiency Of its own system OF
fire protection, the Pennsylvania rail-
road has undertaken thorough test
iof its fire fighting facilities In Al
toona, where there has just been nm
ished a new high-pressure water sys-
tenn, for fire protection purposes only
and without connecting with any o1n-
er distribution pipes. A conflagration
In Altoona would seriously interfere
with the operation OF the entire Penn
isy1vania system, because Altoona IS
the mechanical center of 1t. The IN
surable value Of the machine and car
shops at Altoona, with the equipment
in adjacent yards. is more than $o,-
600, 900, not to speak Of the large
Juniata shops, where the company
builds many OF its locomotives.
cridironine Machines.
Gridironing the machine and car
shops at Altoona are more than seven
miles Of large water mains, with sew
enty-two two and three-way MIGRANTS,
supplying 1874 streams OF water. In
addition to two fire engine compan-
les. chemical extinguishers are dis
tributed through the shops, while sand
and water pals. hose racks. chemical
engines. water casks and ladders, add
to the equipment with which these
railroad fire fighters are armed.
Some 81 900 feet of cotton rubber-lin'
ed hose are available for utilizing the
water from the hydrants, which, ow'
ing to the unique arrangement OF the
mains and valves. cannot be shut OIL
from their water supply by breaks IN
the pipe lines.
To guard against breakages in the
mains, clogs from mud. and similar
troubles experienced SO frequently by
municipal fire departments, the com
pany has, in its system Of fire protec
ton. adopted the method of laying
parallel mains under it's shops ane
equipment yards, so that by the use
OF gate valves any part of a broker
main can be cut off to itself and in nc
way interfere with the flow OF watel
to the different hydrants.
On account of the congested area:
In the machine shops the railroad has
found it necessary to erect four-stor,
buildings. These structures are more
than 100 feet high and an importan
part of the test was to determine !
the recently installed high-pressure
system would throw stream of waite
ON the top of these buildings. b,
the use of what is known as de
LUCE set" which Is nothing more thai
two lines of hose siamesed at one noz
zie. a two-inch stream of water OF 40
gallons a minute was thrown on tn
top of the machine shops.
A Further Feature.
A further feature of the Altoon
fire system is that by means of a RI
servoir in the Pottsgrove Hills, bac
OF Altoona. there have been damme
some 18O.0OO,0OO gallons of waite
which, even In event of sever
drought, would be available for fir
fighting purposes. The high elev'
ton of the reservoir gives to the sy
tenn a static pressure which cannot
interrupted by breakdown of pun
ing station or fire engine.
In the same way as at Altoona tt
Pennsylvania has established its I'll
protection at every large and sma
terminal and station. At the mol
important points. such as New Yor
Jersey City, Philadelphia, Pittsbul
and Baltimore, systems proportional
ly as elaborate have been installed
protect the property of the compan
At the test In Altoona, a number
suppositions fires were started In d
ferent parts Of the railroad shops. al
firemen. with their helpers, respond'
to fight imaginary flames. Some th
ty-two regular firemen and score
more of the auxiliary force direct'
the streams OF water. while inspecto
checked up the results.
To make the test thorough, seve
teen streams were brought into 81
vice. At intervals of two minut