The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-27
Union Pacific. Block Signaling
Between Topeka and SaIina.
Construction and Electrical
Gangs on the Work.
DOUBLE TRACK NEAR.
Proposed New Work Between
Topeka and Denver.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad Circles.

The first signs Of the general i'm
provement campaign launched on the
Hartman lines in this country-espe-
cially the Union Pacifc-became ap-
parent this week when the long lines
of construction trains and bunk cars
went through, Topeka for the west.
The first actual work on the Union
Pacific in the extension of the I'M
equaled block signal system over its
entire series CT main lines throughout
| the west also commenced this week
when the electrical and excavation
gangs composing the working corps of
the block signal system started on the
first stretch of work between Topeka
and Salina.
These gangs are making their head
quarters at Topeka, Manhattan and
Salina and purchase a large amount of
their supplies in this city. The first
| of the week a number of carloads of
sand was shipped from Topeka to
| points along the line and between sta
| tions for the work.
| The Union Pacific has operated a
simple block signal system between
Topeka and Salina for some time, but
the blocks were not of the latest au-
tomato modern type. They were sit
uated as protection to and from sta
| lions, but did not complete a protec-
| tive system between stations, on
curves, over hills and the like.
The work now being carried on will
make this stretch of 120 miles between
Topeka and Salina as good as any
| piece of track on the system. The old
| iron battery pits have been substituted
| by huge concrete basins of larger pro-
portions and holding batteries that will
manipulate the signals all the way be-
| tween stations.
Semaphores and blocks will be
placed at every miley making the sys-
| tenn solid from one end of the line to
the other. The big concrete basins
| cistern and hold an immense amount
| of power and Juice. for the feeding
of all the rails between blocks.
| Half Way Through Kansas.
| With the completion of this stretch
| of track the Union Pacific will have
the state of Kansas The Hartman
| lines have about 5000 miles of block
signals in all and an immense portion
of it is on the Union Pacific.
1t is but question of short time
until the Union Pacific extends the
blocks from Salina west to Denver and
! thence north up into Cheyenne. This
| line to the west is kept shiny with
the heavy pounding locomotives and
| the weighty steel trains And in order
to keep up with the spirit of their
motto-'~The Safe Road to Travel
! the Union Pacific will extend the
blocks and the steel equipment as far
| west as possible.
The Union Pacific is also figuring on
double tracking the line between To-
peka and Denver. Between Topeka
and Kansas City the double track now
extends. When first built it was made
| to handle both the heavy trains of
| the Union Pacific and the Rock Island,
which runs to Kansas City over the
| Unon Pacific under contract. Now
that the business of the west has in
creased to such an extent the Union
Pacific finds it necessary to complete
the four lines of shiny rails to the west