The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1911-08-23
RAILW Way SIGNALS
Fireworks" That Serve as Train
Protectors.
CODE OF TORPEDO AND FUSEE
Messages These Audible and Visible
Danger Signs Convey to the Engi-
neer-The Use of Pyrotechnics as
Signals In the Naval Service.

SIGNALS In the Naval Service.
"POp. pop or perhaps 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 l 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 Cf &C.
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 fieX-
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.
''1'he 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
stop signal.
"The fusees are of similar construc-
ton to the well known Roman candle
used for fireworks celebrations. ex-
cept that they burn a steady fame
without explosions. A sharp iron spike
at the bottom end will usually stick
thrown from the rear Of a 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 a train is
running on the "time" 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 and
known to be clear. Standard fuSees
burn red for three minutes and yel-
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 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 he
was exactly three minutes behind
preceding train, which may have stop
ped within a 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
a following train the flagman goes back
4 specified distance and places one tor
pedO He then continues a farther
distance back. placing two tOrpedOes.
AS soon as the train he is protecting is
specified whistle signal. which is
notice to the fagman to return to his
train. On the way back he picks up
the one torpedo. leaving two on the
rail to warn the engineer of an ap-
preaching train that another train is a
short distance ahead and to give the
iagman time to run back and get
aboard Of his own train"
OF the use of fireworks as signals in
the navy the chief of the bureau OF
construction and repair of the navy de-
partment. Washington. makes the fol-
lowing statement:
"All modern ships are fitted with
electric signals. and the use of such
signals is general in the naval service.
In the case of small vessels having no
electric installation and also for use in
case of the failure of the electric sig
mails the navy has a system of coIored
stars in connection with rockets for
the purpose of signaling
These are in no sense the ordinary
commercial fireworks. but are manu-
featured by the service for naval use
"There are no photographs of this
system of signals for distribution. The
apparatus consists Of specially de
signed pistol from which are fired car
tridges containing the colored stars
that are used in the service CODE
New York Mail.