The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1911-08-18
RAIL Way SIGNALS
fireworks" That Serve as Train
Protectors.
CODE or TORPEDO AND FUSEE

Signals In the Naval Service.
"Pop. pop" or perhaps a single
"pop," sharp and distinct like that OF
a giant Grecrackcr heard not only on
the Fourth of July, but on every day
in the year, sundays included. what
did it mean? And on almost any
night as / look out of my window j
see the edge of the wood on the fields
lighted up by red or yellow fireworks.
WHY this strange llluminatlonf
AS all these queer happenings took
place on the railroad few rods from
my house / made inquiries of The raI-
way officials. and here are some lnIef.
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 fusceS
as visible signals.
mThese torpcdocs are attached to
the top of the rail ON the engineer
side Of the track by two small ilrN-
ible metal straps. which are easily
bent around the ball OF the rail, as
shown in the picture, and hold the
torpcdocs securely I'm place until cX-
plodcd by the first train passing over
this track.
0rhc explosion Of one torpedo is
s,o-,ol to slop. The explosion Of two,
not more than 200 feet apart is a sig
nal to reduce speed and look out for
stop signal
"Thp fusees are Of similar construc-
tion 10 the well known Roman candle
used for fireworks celcbrations, eX-
cent that they burn a steady fame
without explosions. a sharp iron spike
NJ the bottom end win usually stick
I'm thc ground or i'm the cross tie when
thrown from the rear Of train ana
holds the fueee I'm an upr"ht position,
where II Is more plainly visible.
"A fusee must be lighted and left
bv the fagman whenever a train Is
rnnninr on the cline" Of another train
pr behind its own time and under
circumstances which call for such pro
lection.
"a rusce on or near the track, burn
ing red. must not be passed. WN'n
burning yellow ihe train may proo'ou
with caution when the way is seen ana
known to be clear Standard iuSn'S
burn red for three minutes ana ye.
low for scyen minutes and can be seen
for quite n distance.
"You will gather from the above
explanations that the red glare of u
douipg fuycc ON or near the track
woyns the approaching engineer th1t
q prcording train has passed over ms
tract, less than three minutes ahead
of him. and under no circumstances
must he pass this signal while burniuE
rcd when the dame turns to yellow
no may proceed with caution only as
the way is seen and known 10 p'
clear. keeping I'm mind that when tue
fusee changed from red TO yellow ne
was exactly three minutes behind a
preceding train. which may have STOP
ned within q short distance or may
he proceeding at an unusually slow
rate OF speed
Tie supcrintcndont Of the shore line
division. another branch of the same
| railroad. gives this additional deta'l re-
garding torpcdoes:
"yhen a train stops upon the m'i'
line and requires protection a@anS
following train The lagmon goes ha''
snccirod distance and. places one tor
nodo. He then continues n farth'
distance back, placing two torpedocs
As soon as the train me is rrotec0ln" j
ready to start the engineer blows
snecircd whistle signal which is
notice ta the nagman to rot'rn fo u,
troip. ON The way back hc picks NJ
tbc one tornpdo leaving two 'n i'
rou to warn the engineer ot 'n '.
nroaching train that anotN"r trn rs
short distance a&nud and ro "''e iH
nagman time to run h'.N "'d ..
aboard uf his own train
or the use Of fireworks as sl"n"ls D
the navy the chief Of the bureau q
construction and repair of the navy d
partmcnt. Washington, makes the to
lowing statement:
"An modern. ships are fitted VIII
electric signals. and the use of sur
, SIGNALS is general I'm the naval service
: In the case OF small vessels having
electric installation and also for use q
case of the failure of Che electric si
nails the navy has a system of coIor'
t stars i'm connection with rockets Il
the purpose of signaling
"These are I'm no sense the ordInaI
commercial fireworks, but are man
factured by the service for naval us
exclusively.
"There are no photographs OF th
system Of s-suals Tor distribution. 7.
apparatus consists Of % specially O.
signed pistol from which or' ir'd ro
tridges containing the co.orra ,.a
!, that are used I'm the service code.
- New York Mail