Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-06

!
an express from terminus to terminus.
American records for time saving
have been left far behind by the fast
signalling service that governs the
London tubes, where seconds do the
average work of minutes.
"Do YOU never make a mistake"
asked the shirt -sleevcd young man at
the levers.
Nothing is left to chance" lie re-
piled with his eye on the indicator
above his head. and his fingers auto
matically working the row of points.
The hundreds Of passengers seated
in the trains Wbizzing through the
station doubtless never dream Of this
autona ton, who goes through his
task unfalteringlr and with such in
finite precision. Every train as il
Apr )aches the junction is shown Oh
the diagram above the operatorS
head as a small black section NOV
ing slowly across the lines. He can
see 1t pass and bury itself again in
the biackness Of the tube after lie
has switched ii on the line of its
destination. He can delay or stop 1t
at will but a stop between stations is
almost unknown. even though half Il
dozen trains appear On the diagram
at the same time. They come to the
station, stop few seconds and are
off again.
So perfect is the system that there
is little chance of an accident. The
signalman. busy checking others. is
himself checked, and if he fell dead
at his post it would only mean that
the trains would be brought to a
Standstill.
1t is an elaborate scheme that lies
under the tube system. The points
of the rails arc SO arranged that they
give an indication Immediately they
are set properly and the signdller
gives the ''clear call" to the driver.
Should the driver find lie is cleared
for the wrong line h" simply stops
his train and uses his telephone re-
ceiver. This is carried by all driv
ers, and is fitted with loose wires
which he attaches to the bare tunnel
wires that run along the side of the
tube. and when the bell rings in the
signalman's cabin he tells of the er-
ror. and the points are altered for
him.
There is yet a further check. TINS
one being manipulated by the driver
who indicates the the signalman De-
fore he arrives at the station as to
where ne IS bound. Two long poles
are attached to the sides of the tun-
mel. close to the driving cab. an cleo
trio light being fixed to each, marked
with the name of the station. The
o..I forward
..plunges" the pole that shows his des-
tination. and this lights one of the
di.ks in the signal mans cabin, VINO
replies by pulling the lever necessary
Every train that passes through the
station is registered Automatically
with its name on Il large dial next the
signal man. and the superintendent
inspects this every day.
Passengers on the London tubes
enter ard leave the trains freely
without a thought for the gigantic
organization that is harvesting the
greatest thing OF science for the sale
ty of the public. They are apt 10
Target the man at the front OF their
train who plunges through darkness
for A living. ard few know anything
about my cool headed. pale faced
Young man who sits in his cabin be-
fore the rows nf levers. sending trains
on their Journeys with move OF MS
little finger. and stopping others y
movement that braces the compressed
air into a brake as solid as any IRON
one. They are children of the biack
underworld. these signalnen' VINO toit
in the burrow $ cf the city. ami never
see Gods daylight during their work
ing hours.