Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-08-21
railway SIGNALS
Fireworks" That Serve as Train
Protectors.
CODE OF TORPEDO AND FUSEE

CODE OF TORPEDO AND FUSEE
Messages These Audible and Visible
Danger Signs Convey 70 the Enoi'
nssr-Ths Use Of Pyrotschnies q
Signals In the Naval Service.
Pop. pop" or perhaps a single
'pop." sharp and distinct like that OF
a giant firecracker heard not only on
the Fourth Of July. but Oh every day
in the year. Sundays included. What
did it mean? Aud on almost any
night as look out Of my window
see the edge Of the wood or the fields
lighted up by red or yellow fireworks.
Why this strange illumination?
AS all these queer happenings took
place on the railroad few rods from
my house | made inquiries OF the rail-
way officials. and here are some inter-
esting facts about the use of these
curious fireworks"
The general superintendent OF the
New York. New Haven and Hartford
railroad explained as follows:
"Our rules provide for the use OF de-
tonators. commonly known as torpe-
does. as audible signals and Of 'fuseeS
as visible signals.
"These torpedoes are attached to
the top of the rail on the engineers
side of the track by two small hex-
ible metal straps. which are easily
bent around the ball Of the rail. as
shown in the picture. and hold the
torpedoes securely in place until e.
pIoded BY the first train passing over
this track.
1.-THE explosion of one torpedo Is
signal to- stop: the explosion Of two.
not more than 200 feet apart is sig
nal to reduce speed and look out for
a stop signal.
1.-THE fusees are Of similar construc.
ton to the well known Roman candle
used for fireworks celebrations. ex-
cept that they burn steady flame
without explosions. A sharp iron spike
at the bottom end will Usually stick
in the ground or In the cross tie when
thrown from the rear Of train ana
holds the fusee in an upright position.
where it IL more plainly visible.
"A fusee must be lighted and left
by the dagman whenever train b
running on the "time" Of another tral>
or behind its own time and under
circumstances which call for such pro-
lection.
"A fusee on or near the track. burn
ing red. must not be passed. Whep
burning yellow the train may proce.-.
with caution when the way is seen ant
known to be clear. Standard fuse>
burn red for three minutes and yes
low for seven minutes and can be sea
for quite distance.
you will gather from the alo.-
explanations that the red glare OF q
flaming fusee on or near the track
warns the approaching engineer that
a preceding train has passed over his
track less than three minutes ahead
of him, and under no circumstances
must he pass this signal while burning
red. When the fame turns to yellow
he may proceed with caution. only as
the way is seen and known to be
clear. keeping in mind that when the
fusee changed from red to yellow be
was exactly three minutes behind
preceding train. which may have stop
ped within short distance or may
be proceeding at an unusually slow
rate Of speed"
The superintendent Of the Shore line
division. another branch Of the same
railroad. gives this additional detail re-
garding torpedoes:
"When a train stops upon the main
line and requires protection against
q following train the fagman goes back
a specified distance and places one tor.
pedo. He then 'ontinues farther
distance back. placing two torpedoes.
As soon as the trs In he IS protecting Is
ready TO start tkt engineer blows
speciied whistle signal. which 10
notice to t',e fagnlan to return to his
train. On the way back he picks up
the ore torpedo. leaving two on tho
rail to warn the engineer Of an ap-
proa:hlng train that another train IL
short distance ahead and to give the
fag1n:n time to run back and get
aboard Of h!s own trnin."
OF the n:e IF fireworks as signals In
the navy the chief Of the bureau OF
construction ard rpiair 1T the navy de-
cartneEt. Washington. makes the TO-
owing state" en:
".All modern >A!''S ar" fitted with
electric Si.,:: as and the ''"e OF sucn
signals is general In thu nava! service.
In the c::Se ~: s..,a!l vessels having no
electric installation ind as" fer use In
case Of the fixture 1T the electric sig
nails the navy baS system OF color Il
stars in connection with rW'ke's for
the purpose If signaling
''TheSe are in nt' sen q the ordinary
commercial fireworks. hu' are manu-
featured by the service fer naval us"
exclusively.
"Thcre are n" ph"t"Fr'' his Ut N :
system Of si~na|s for dl trh.ti Il. The
apparatus consists Of :, specially dc
signed pisto! from which are fred car
trijlces cDn,oin;ng the cOored stars