The Cairo bulletin., 1911-08-18
RA|LWAY SIGNALS
Fireworks" That Serve as Train
Protectors.
CODE OF TORPEDO AND FUSEE
Messages These Audible and Visible
Danger Signs Convey to tho Ensi-
neer--The Use of Pyrotechnics as
Signals in the Nava! Service.

Signals in the Nava! Service.
"Pop. pop" or perhaps single
pop" sharp and distinct like that OF
a giant f.ecracker heard not only on
the Fourth of July but on every day
in the year. Sundays included. What
did 1t mean? And on almost any
night as ! look ont 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 Il 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 "tireworks.'
The general superintendent of the
New York. New Haven and Hartford
railroad explained us follows:
"Our rules provide for the use of de
| tonators. commonly known MS torpe-
does. as audible signals and of fusees'
as visible signals.
| "rhesc torpedoes are attached to
| the top Of The rail on the engineers
side OF The track by two small flex'
lille metal straps. which are easily
| bent around the ball of the rail, AS
shown in the picture. and hold the
torpcdoes securely in place until ex-
ploded by the first train passing over
| this track.
"rhe explosion Of one torpedo is a
signal to stop. the explosion OF two.
not more than 200 feet apart il sig
nal TO reduce speed and look out for
stop signal
"The fliSees are of similar conStruc-
tion to the we'll known Roman candle
used for fireworks celebrations, ex-
cept that they burn a steady flame
! without explosions, A sharp iron spike
Mt the bottom end will usually stick
in the ground or in the cross tie when
thrown from the rear Of train and
holds the fusee In an upright position.
where it is more plainly visible.
"a fusee must be lighted and left
by the tiagman whenever train Is
running on the cline" of another train
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. When
burning yellow the train may proceed
with caution when the way IS seen ana
known to be clear. Standard fuSeeS
burn red for three minutes and vel
low for seven minutes and can be seer
for quite distance,
you will gather from the above
explanations TINT the red glare OF I;
flaming flSre on cr near HE ffacf
warns the approaching ENGINEER that
Il preceding train has passed over ms
track less than three minutes nheat
of him. and under no circumstances
must lie pass this signal while burning
red When the fame turns TO yellow
he NAV proceed with caution. only a'
the way is seen and known to bC
clear. keeping In mind that when The
fuspe changed from red 70 yellow h'
| was exactly three minutes behind ;
preceding train. which may have stop
ned within n short distance or mn'
be proceeding Mt an unusually SLOW
rate Of speed.
The Superintendent Of the Shore lln'
division. another branch Of the SANE
railroad. gives this additional detail re
garding torpedoes:
"Whcn train stops upon the mai
line and requires protection agains
a following train the lagman goes hac
n specified distance and places one tor
pedo. He then continues farthe
distance back. placing two torpedoe'
AS soon as the train he Is protecting
ready to start the engineer blows
specified whistle signal, which is
notice TO the ilagman TO return TO hi
train. On the way back he picks II
the one torpedo leaving two on IN
rail to warn the engineer OF an ~
preaching train that another train is
short distance ahead and 10 give tn
Aagman time TO run back and &c
aboard Of his own train"
= OF the use Of fireworks as signals
| the navy illt tlltl VI 'hN bNl'HN
construction aud repair Of the navy d.
;. partment. Washington, makes the 70
i lowing statement:
j "All modern ships are fitted wit
= electric signals, and the use of sue
= signals is general in the naval servic
y In the case of small vessels having 4
electric installation aud also for use
| case Of the failure of the electric SIT
l nails the navy has a system of colorr
y stars in connection with rockets #
y the purpose of signaling.
u "These are In no sense the ordlnar
u commercial fireworks. but are mani
featured by the service for naval MS
i exclusively.
; "There are no photographs of tn
e system Of signals for distribution. I'll
y apparatus consists of specially d
signed pistol from which are fred ca
@ tridges containing the coored stat
J. that are used in the service code. ,
J. New York Mall.
= -------~~-------------
Mighty Arcturus.