Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-09
sIeekina Time Danos ro usly Short.

II thirty miles per hour train, be-
ing followed in Ave minutes by one
! going sixty miles per hour. stops eight
minutes after passing block station.
at a point where, to the rear. on ac-
count of cuts, curves, trees and wealth
er conditions, the crew on engine fol-
lowing train is prevented from seeing
till they meet the fiagman going back
at nine miles per hour, there's APP
proximately 6s6 feet Of track then be-
tween the rear end Of a standing train
and the engine Of one approaching 1t
at the rate of eighty eight feet per
second. And if these railroad men be
Of the kind heard about and seldom, II
ever seen, ie "criminally" negligent to
the degree Of not being awake to OBJ
serve the approach of following trains
or the appearance Of a flagman in their
path. in about eight seconds more time.
or sixty seconds from the time leading
train stopped there's a wreck due to
occur, so far as it is then in human
power to prevent
Now, considering these men justly
awake to their duties as well as to
their own personal safety. comparing
the distances of CSC and 1000 feet. the
latter being the usual distance from
a grade crossing at which posts are
maintained to warn enginemen Of
regular stop before obstructing such
crossings. in case of failure to bring
following train. in above example. to
a stop within sss feet approaching that
piece of track at a speed of sixty miles
per hour. could these men. consistently
be charged with causing a wreck. either
- Sob 40 90" "a n
flagman or the running by a flag on
the part Of engine crew? I should say
not And I believe any reader will
agree they would simply be "up against"
an impossibili,y for them TO prevent
wreck
Many readers may say that such
conditions and circumstances do not
exist often enough to be cause for
alarm. which I'll agree is SO to the ex-
tent OF giving it as my own actual ex-
perience as a hagman on passenger
trains for ten years. I never was in
such a wreck.
However, should stop at such half
or less than half statement Of the
truth about that experience, it might
we'll be asked: What are you contend
ing for and what's the use Of ito" And
i
ductor II had "cold feet" to which
replied. Eyes at times. and so would
you by now If hadn't thrown or
lighted fuse hack there" Then he quit
"jollying" and showed that he appreci
ated watchfulness by flagmen- Not
throwing bouquets at myself. but ex-
planning one way OF preventing such
accidents as mentioned above.
And do not take 1t from me alone.
but ask engine or train men OF your
acquaintance who have had years OF
practical railroad experience. If il Is
not a fact that in great majority OF
cases fla gman or his signals are seen
long enough before he IS met by the
crew he flags to enable them to stop
on meeting him" tper rules and regu-
lations on most all line) and to ascer-
tain the cause for his display Of the
red flag or lantern. Also whether such
views are to be had at
all times and places as well as. II SAFE
tx in such short-view places as there
may be. are provided for in rules and
And il there be any place
on a whole division or run" in which
the view is INSTRUCTED very much as
above described are trains on ap-
preaching It always blocked or
spaced apart any greater length OF time
at nearest station. either direction from
such place or places than is customary
at other stations?
I guess not. And if not who is to be
praised for the providential circum-
stances In which perhaps 9a9 times In
a thousand flag may be seen soon
enough to stop on being met by crew
tagged
ASK railroad men Of your acquaint-
ance If It be fact that many agree
.twould be criminal and suicidal to OPP
crate trains Of present weight and
speed were it not for the automatic
airbrakes in use. Ask your attorney
II the law called the safety appliance"
includes such airbrake. and IL there
was much or little difficulty in its en-
actment or enforcement.
You perhaps remember the enact
ment and prompt enforcement OF the
sixteen-hour law and something OF
what led to same. but next time rail-
road friend passes, ask him about 1t.
When all these questions have been
gone over and tho granting the cond!-
lions presented in example be rare, say
even one train in ten thousand In
stances Of tagging trains thruout the