Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-12

E2s:sSSf!55$A over the tracks
Sfs and through the
g. $500 great yards oS
terminals.
sss0 Last year one
large railway
system carried ten per cent. Of the e.
timated passenger trahic Of the Unit
ed States, or As, 491 900 people. without
. fatal accident to any Of the number.
This remarkable achievement, which
is an unparalleled record In railroad
ing, Is attributed directly to the install
lation Of safety devices.
The victory Of safety devices has
reduced the possibilities of accidents
and collisions to the minimum. In
America the accident problem has
been the most serious to deal with In
modern railroad affairs. The long lists
Of casualties have been presented ~
evidence that railroad men In general
held a reckless disregard for life and
property.
However. this cannot be proven true.
as railroad progress has been too rap
Id to permit of a great deal Of time
for the developing systems for the
safe handling Of trains. But the pub
licity given to all forms OF accidents,
and their investigation, has been q
spur to greater efforts to safeguard
lives and property. This effort has
developed q universal campaign call.
ing for the expenditure Of millions OF
dollars, which has already resulted in
q big reduction Of accidents and the
guarantee OF greater safety to the
travelling public.
When you have occasion to travel
again, you will find It an Interesting
study to watch the signals along the
track. You will then understand Why
the "semaphore arms" prevent ono
train from crashing into another.
guard against all kinds OF accidents.
and observe Just how railroad travel
Is made safe.
This system of providing safeguards
against accidents and loss OF life IL
known as "the automatic block signal
system"
Principle simple One.
The principle governing the opera
tit,u OF this system Is simple and easy
to understand. Along any line where
automatic block signals have been In
stalled the track is divided into sec
lions called "blocks," the average OF
each being mile or mile and q half
in length. At the end Of every block"
a signal in the form Of ''semaphore
arm" is erected, which controls the
section on which 1t is stationed.
The position Of the arm Of the soma
phore tells the engineers OF approach
ing trains whether to stop or go
ahead. II block is occupied by
train, the signal arm win extend In q
horizontal position, meaning STOP" or
danger" and It holds that position
as long as the train remains In that
block. Or II any obstruction. such AZ
broken rail, . misplaced switch. or
any object is on the track IN the
block section" the arm win remain
at the stop" signal until the obstacle
is removed. In this way the electric
semaphore prevents all kinds OF acci-
dents, which in the past have occurred
because no one was there TO give
warning, or perhaps II was the mis-
take Of some trainman. But the trust
worthy block signal places around the
traveller zones Of safety from terminal
to terminal.
Through the two rails Of the track
there flows IN electric current nom
q battery 1t tho opposite end Of the
block. This current controls . small
motor, which pulls the semsphore
arm down and holds It. in that posi-
ton - long @ the block section -
unobstructed.
. But when . train passes tho sema-
.phore and enters the block the wheels
and axles Of the engine and cars n.
,terrupt the current flowing through
the rails. When this occurs the sem.
aphore arm Immediately niss 20 the
stop position.
Essy rules for Crow.
Il II quite o poesahle Tor the cur
rent IN the rails 70 b interrupted By
an open switch, broken rail-. or any
obstruction on the track W1oo this
takes place, the Semaphc9o arm comes
to the stop poslejoa. Or sboald any
part a - sleslsso aatome1So system
get ont Of of1aF. ~ arm VIII ~ 10
the STOP poeatisn, apd win IN NO
case i've the ssoears signal unbees
the block" 4 cSeaS. = evss when
tha automatic auDens = not work
iug peopsely Il . ~.
The train ersws have sample rules
20 follow. II the 6sD = = % iHeli1ed
position, the 0a1a 0av % aeead y
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