The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-30

During the recent billiards. 1t is re-
ported that if it had not been for the
telephone system, by which many OF the
roads are now dispatching their trains
the tie-up would have been much worse.
Between Rochester and Syracuse the
New York Central and Hudson River
Railroad did not have a telegraph wire
working To add to the troubles, the
telephone line between these two points
was crossed at several places with Morse
wires, and was further interfered with by
break down in the Niagara Power
COmpanys high tension transmission
line This transmission line operates at
a voltage of $1,000. and is a fertile source
Of induetive trouble for all telephone lines
in the neighborhood.
In spite of this, the telephone Dispatch
ing wire was operated for four days, and
the rush Of business on the circuit was SO
heavy that it was impossible to turn the
line over TO the test man to have the
trouble cleared. The telephone was limp
ing, but It was stin capable of dispatching
the trains
Worked Under Difficulties.
On the Delaware division OF the Penn
sylvania Railroad not a single through
telegraph wire was in service. There
were also breaks in the telephone dis
patching circuit and grounds on the
line, due to the heavy storm. The dis
patchers were still able to talk the entire
length of the division. The flexible ar
rangement Of the system installed per-
mitted the breaks to be patched around,
and the telephone was still operated. in
spite Of grounds, which put telegraph
lines out of business.
OF course, with such cases of trouble
the quality of speech was not so good
rs on a perfectly clear line, but IL was
sufficiently serviceable 20 enable all the
way stations 10 hear the dispatcher on
this division, 50 that he could direct the
trains by this means. The railroad off,
Gals state that no traffic on the road
would have been able 10 move until the
wires could have been repaired if il had
not been for the telephone.
Making Great Gains.
The telephone recently has been making
great gains in popularity throughout the
railroad world. Forty-seven Of the prin-
cipal roads Of the country are now using
the telephone on nearly 1900 miles Of
track. Many of these roads are rapidly
increasing their telephone facilities.
The Great Northern is preparing to
complete the installation Of telephone
train dispatching equipment the entire
distance from Minneapolis to Seattle
2,l00 miles.
The Norfolk and Western has 900 miles
already equipped, and has recently pur-
chased equipment for the entire length
of its main line, Only a week or two
ago the Lehigh Valley opened up a divi-
sion OF train dispatchlng circuits, and
the Cumberland Valley IS installing sim
liar equipment
Equipment Il Strong.
Il is interesting TO note that the adop-
ton Of the telephone by the railroads
has been made with their usual thor
oughness, and in almost every case the
best construction methods used. such as
will withstand severe weather conditions
The lines used TO dispatch trains are. in
many cases. as heavy as the long dis
lance in lines in commercial service
throughout the country.
This is done in order to have the line
stand Up under the severe conditions it
is subjected 20 along a railroad right Of
way. and also In order that the very best
grade Of telephone transmission NAV be
obtained as a matter Of protection TO pas-
sengers.