The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1911-08-25
Rail WAY SIGNALS
Fireworks" That Serve as Train
Protectors.
CODE OF TORPEDO AND FUsEE
Messages These Audible and Visible
Danger Signs Convey to the Er9i-
neer-The Use of Pyrotechnics IS
Signals In the Naval Service.


Pop, pop or perhaps a single
pop" sharp and distinct like that of
giant frecracker 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 L
see the edge of the wood or the fields
lighted up by red or yellow fireworks.
Why this strange illumination?
AS ill these queer happenings took
place on the railroad a few rods from
my house l 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 flex-
! 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 eX-
ploded by the first train passing over
| this track
"The explosion of one torpedo is a
signal to stop: the explosion of two,
not more than 200 feet apart is a sig
nal to reduce speed and look out for
a stop signal.
"The fusees are of similar construc-
ton 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
at 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 fagman whenever q train is
running on the "time" of another train
or behind it's 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 and
known to be clear. Standard fusees
burn red for three minutes and vel
low for seven minutes and can be seen
for quite a distance.
"You will gather from the above
explanations that the red glare OF
flaming fusee on or near the tracE
warns the approaching engineer thai
a preceding train has passed over his
; track less than three minutes aheaC
of him, and under no circumstances
must he pass this signal while burning
red. When the flame turns to yellow
he may proceed with caution. only al
the way is seen and known to bt
clear, keeping in mind that when thu
fusee changed from red to yellow h'
. was exactly three minutes behind
. preceding train, which may have stop
ned within a short distance or ma.
be proceeding at an unusually SLOW
rate Of speed"
The superintendent Of the Shore lin
division, another branch Of the sam
railroad. gives this additional detail re
{ garding torpedoes:
"When a train stops upon the mai
, line and requires protection agains
, a following train the flagman goes bac
O specified distance and places one tol
: pedo. He then continues farthe
! distance back, placing two torpedOe:
3 AS soon as the train he is protecting
, } ready to start the engineer blows
specified whistle signal. which is
p notice to the flagman to return TO n
train. On the way back he picks
f the one torpedo, leaving two on tn
I rail to warn the engineer of an al
n preaching train that another train is
short distance ahead and TO give I'll
! fagman time to run back and 81
q aboard of his own train"
OF the use of fireworks as signals
4 the navy the chief Of the bureau
9 construction and repair of the navy q
! partment, Washington, makes the &c
q lowing statement:
: Gall modern ships are fitted VIII
9 electric signals, ard the use of sue
signals is general in the naval servlc
In the case of small vessels having I
- electric installation and also for use
case of the failure of the electric 81
nails the navy has system OF coiort
stars in connection with rockets II
- the purpose of signaling.
= 'These are in no sense the ordlnal
Il commercial fireworks. but are man
featured by the service for naval u
. exclusively.
There are no photographs OF tn
e system Of signals for distribution. II
Il apparatus consists of q specially q
10 signed pistol from which are fired ca
l. tridges containing the colored sta
that are used in the service code. .
Is New York Mail.
u Mighty Arcturus.
- Tho r,nct hri1Ii0