The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-02
RAILROAD NEWS.
Is Electric Headlight a Danger
in Railway Work?
Recent Experiments Show That
Oil Lamps Excel.
CAN'T SEE SIGNALS.
False and Phantom Signals
Caused by Brightness.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad World.

| Apropos of the recent discussion in
railway circles regarding the desirable
| ity or undesirability of more powerful
headlights than the oil lamps now in
| general use, Prof. c. H. Benjamin, dean
of the school of engineering. Purdue
| university, read a paper at a recent
meeting of the Western Railway club,
giving a brief account of some expert
ments made under his direction during
the months of October and November,
| 1909. The experiments were conducted
| at the request of the railroad commits
sion of Indiana, the object being to de-
termine the relative effects of oil and
electric headlights upon the reading Of
signal lights and the identified ton of OBJ
stacles on the track and by suitable
laboratory experiments to determine
the causes of the differences which
might be found to exist.
Prof. Benjamin's remarks, in part,
were as follows
periments in reading the home signal
at various distances under three sets
of conditions. with opposing electric
headlight, with opposing oil headlight
and with no OPPOSING headlight. This
series was carried out with an electric
headlight on the observation car.
1.-The results of these tests were that
a speeder or tricycle. on the track was
noticed at a distance of about 700 feet,
but was not fully identified until the
distance was 300 feet. A car on a sid
ing not in the clear was not noticed by
tie majority of the observers. even
some of the railroad men failing in this
regard. Dummies on the track were
hardly noticeable at distances of over
200 feet, and finally, two coal cars
squarely on the track only became
noticeable at about 1900 feet and were
not identified until the distance was re-
duced to about 1000 feet.
Some weeks later these observations
were verified in large measure by
ri lie on an engine from Indianapolis to
Terre Haute and return. The engine
on the westward trip was equipped
with an electric headlight, while on the
return trip another engine with an oil
headlight was used. Nothing particu-
larly new was learned on this trip, but
the observations confirmed the con-
illusions previously formed. Phantom
lights, both white and green. appeared
at intervals on home and distant sig
nails during the outward trip.
AT one station where the lights were
all out comparatively brilliant white
lights were seen first in the distant sig
nal and later in some of the lamps Of
the home signal. When the electric
headlight, conspicuous objects, such as
crossing guards or highway bridges,
could only be seen at distances less
than 1900 or 1900 feet. AS the train
had speed of about 60 miles per hour,
distances could be determined approx
imately by counting. The home signals
could be seen at about 1900 feet with
the electric light, but could be seen
further when the oil light was used.
The presence of an opposing electric
headlight obscured all signals, both
block and classification. This seemed
to us to constitute the strongest OBJ
lection to the use of such a light.
THE following conclusions are taken
verbatim from my report to the rail-
road commission:
"a. That an electric headlight on the
engine of a train has one marked dis
advantage, namely, the causing of re-
Elections from glass roundels and lenses, |
thereby producing false or phantom
signals. This is not due entirely to any
popularity of the electric light, but TO
its great power and intensity as conR
pared with ordinary signal lamps.
''B. That distractions on the track
cannot ordinarily be seen with an cleo |
to prevent the probability of accident.
&C. That an opposing headlight ad |
jacent to block signals so obscures |
them as to make it difficult to read |
them correctly at distances exceeding |
1 900 feet.
I'D. That an opposing oil headlight |
on an approaching engine obscures the |
signals of that engine to |
a marked degree; that this is notice |
ably true of green signals. as these are |
of the electric light
IF. That an opposing oil headlight |
allows either white or green signals to |
be read at a distance CT 400 feet or even |
more.
Il feel justified at the present time in |
stating my personal opinion in this |
matter. with the understanding that it |
is only my opinion and does not in any |
way commit my associates. All of the |
tests which I have seen tend to con-
vince me that it is a disadvantage to |
and fireman of a train to have |
an electric headlight on his engine |
since it interferes with the correct
reading of signal lights: and that it is
still more a disadvantage to the crew |
of an engine to have electric headlights
on engines which they meet or parallel |
tracks and at stations. Furthermore, 1 |
do not consider that the greater illumi
nation of the track ahead, or of objects
On the track. is any compensation for |
the disadvantages just mentioned. If it |
be admitted that the engineers re-
sponsibility is chiefly to his train and
to the passengers dependent on his skill
and faithfulness, it is evident that
whatever interferes with his correct
reading of signals on track or engine. |
s to be condemned, however much Il
may help to warn chance pedestrians of /
the approach of danger"
TEACH EMPLOYEES SIGNALS.