New Britain herald., 1916-04-03
Inconsistency Pointed Out.

present Tagging rule and the oppor- tunity for actual performance of the hagman's duties in the block signal sections when fixed signals are dis obeyed by the engineers of following trains, but the commission does not deem it advisable for the reasons above stated, to recommend any ar bitrary rule governing the spacing of time interval between trains.
 ''The safety of operation, the es- abolished means of protection and the traffic necessitates should be care- fully studied by the officers Of the railroad comany in determining the minimum interval of time allowed be- tween trains going in the same di- rection on the same track keeping in mind the fact that while the necessi- ties of dense traffic requires the close spacing of trains, the safety of the travelling public should be safeguard cd to the fullest extent
 Trumbul's Report Approved.
 The report which is signed by the full commission, Richard T. Higgins, ]. H. Hale and c. c. Elwell, includes the report of it's chief engineer, John F. Trumbull, whose report, it says, '* giving the causes, facts and circum- stances of the accident and the sug- gestions of means whereby similar ac- cidents may possibly be avoided are accepted, approved and made a part of the commissions report''
 Chief Engineer John F. Trumbull in his report, after reviewing the scope of his inquiry, made these rec concentrations, "as a possible means whereby similar accidents may be avoided in the future:
 "1 More rigid enforcement of the railroad company's rule forbidding unauthorized persons to ride on loco motives; although the violation of this rule, discovered in the investigation of the accident may not have been a contributing cause.
 "2. A more efficient organization for handling wrecks and for relief work, to ensure proper care of the injured and quicker clearing of tracks for the resumption of traffic. This suggestion cannot properly be classed among those which, if carried out, would as- sist in avoiding similar accidents; but the confusion attending the care of the injured from a wreck occurring
 
 teen miles apart, as we'll as the long delay in clearing practically undam- aged tracks for normal service, would seem to be unwarranted.
 f'3. A rule requiring all trains to be brought under control before passing block signals indicating caution and to be maintained in that condition un- til the next block signal indication in advance is seen and obeyed. Under the existing rules, no definite act in obedience to a caution signal is re- Quired when accepting it's indication. The rules define the meaning of a caution signal as Approach neSt home signal prepared to stop (before passing it) and I believe a definite and immediate act of obedience is just as necessary at a caution signal as it is at a home signal. If compiled with, it should not fail to keep in the en- gineer's mind the important fact that his train is under control on account of a possible stop signal ahead and cannot, under the rules, resume speed until assurance Of clear track is re- ceived at the next signal. |
 Better Device Needed.
 "A more active effort on the part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company to de- velope and perfect an automatic train stopping device that will operate suc- cessful1y on it's electrified system.
 Your commission" the report con- tinues, "in it's order and record of the wreck at Westport, October B, 1912, docket number 479, made the following comment: This commission can pass no order which will over come human frailty in so far as the individual is concerned. The history of railroad operation proves that human agency, under the most favor able conditions and exercises by the most trusted and competent employees is liable to err, and it is the duty of railroad company to adopt such ap- proved mechanical devices and con- struction as will tend to prevent the disastrous results of uncomfortable human frai1ty.
 of division of safety of the interstate commerce commission states that: A number Of train control. devices are now available which if installed and used for the purpose intended would increase the safety of railroad opera ton and which possess sufficient prom ise of further development to warrant railroad companies in according them serious consideration.
 There is apparently no insuperable obstacle that prohibits the develop ment of a device suitable for use on the electrified section of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail- road, where the conditions prevent the use of the direct current apparatus, which is employed in practically all of the many electrical devices thus far produced for an automatic train con- troll
 The List of Dead