The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-09
TO MAKE TESTS OF
AUTOMATIC DEVICE
TO STOP TRAINS
Julian and Associates to Try
Out Invention on the
Queen and Crescent
Route

NJ. R. Julian and associates of Bir-
mingham have been given permission by
the management of the Queen and Cres-
cent route for a practical test on the
Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pa
cific division for their automatic train
stop and cab signal
The test is to be made under the super
Crescent and Stephen Smith and J. V.
Morris of this city the work to begin
within the next week.
On account of the numerous fatal
wrecks on the American railroads and
especially the recent wrecks on the New
York, New Haven and Hartford rail-
way, the general public is demanding
that something be done to prevent such
great loss of human life. The larger
ing to get practical automatic train stop
and cab signal that will stop a train
when the engineer fails In his duty. It
is said that the objection to the present
signals is the inability of the engineer to
see the board or semaphore arm In time
to stop his train. 1t has been estimated
pS c&pcilS That ttlSlI6tiS Oi SOllle Oh the
faster trains have to catch a board, or
semaphore every 80 seconds and look
after the engine at the same time, while
in a great many cases he Is making 70
miles per hour to make his scheduled
time. This experts claim to be physical
impossbility, as the engineer has to see
the board about 200 feet before he gets
to. it to keep from overrunnng danger
signals.
he No
York, New Haven and Hartford has Of
fered a prize of $4,000 to the man who
can perfect a practical cab signal and
automatic train stop.
The cause of the recent wrecks on the
New York, New Haven and Hartford
was due to the fact that the engineer
did not run his train according to the
signals received because he could not see
them. The Julian signal eliminates this
feature as 1t puts the signal in the cab
of the locomotive where he can see them
by means of three electric lights at all
times, and he claims there is no excuse
for not regarding his signals. If. how
ever, an engineer does disregard the sig
nal there is recording tape-clock which
records the kind of signal he got, the
time of day he received the signal and
the speed of the train, simultaneously
If he gets the danger signal, the train is
automatically brought to a stop regard
| less of the action of engineer.
| The United States government has re-
Gently appropriated $25, 600 to be used II
| investigating the efficiency of any sucl
| devices, and there has been a bill intro
| duced into Congress making this COM
| pulsory for railroads to use such de-
vice If found practical. To do this they
| will only have to mend the present safety
| appliance act to include this device.
| There has been an association formed
| in the east comprised of the leading rail-
road experts of the larger railroads which
| is known as the American Railway asso-
| citation, which has issued a circular letter
to all general managers of all Arnerl-
| can railroads. stating the requirement:
for cab signal and automatic train stop
Mr.. Julian claims that his device covers
| in detail every requirement asked foi
! by these experts
| The inventor has been working on his
device for TIE past three years and has
taken out several patents on it.
| To briefly describe the working o.
| signal:
The signal is indicated in the cab OF
| engine by means of electric lights which
| indicate the condition of the track ahead
| at all times If the block ahead Is clear
he receives white light; it, however there
! is train in block ahead, the green light
or caution signal will be displayed: ther
| upon. entering the block occupied by q
| train he receives a red light or danger
signal and the brakes are automatically
| applied.
| Mr. Julian claims his device will abso-
| lutely prevent trains firm running intc
open switches. open draw bridges, burn
| ing bridges or any other dangerous sig
| nails. This the inventor expects to show
during the demonstration to be made or
the Queen and Crescent out of Cincin-
natl.