Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-03-16
ACCIDENTS ON line
INVESTIGATION REVEALS SOME
INTERESTING FACTS.
Many Collisions Were on Lines Oper-
ated by the Block Signal System
Expects Call for Revision of
Railroad Rules.

One of the most interesting of the
many duties, as provided by law, OF
the interstate commerce commission IS
that of the investigation of railroad
accidents. During the past year, the
latest statistics available show that
officials of the commission investi-
gated As collisions and 30 derailments.
These accidents, SIS in all, resulted in
the death of 200 persons and the in
jury of 1.441 persons.
In recOunting their work experts or
the commission say that &c of the col
iisions occurred on lines operated by
the block system, II in automatic block
signal territory; and of the collisions
30 occurred where no block system
was in effect and % on lines operated
by the train-order system.
Those experts of the commission I'M
der whose direct charge these investi-
cations come say that the study OF
collisions occurring in automatic block
signal territory has demonstrated the
imperative need of revision of the
railroads rules and q change in the
practices pertaining to the observance
of caution signal indications. At the
present time it is said that when dis
tant signal displays caution indica-
ton an engineman is not positively re-
quired to reduce the speed of the train
at once, the only requirement being
that he shall approach the next signal
with his train under control and pre-
pared to stop.
1t is said that frequently at the pres
ent time, no reduction of speed is
made when a caution signal indication
is displayed. Only recently, it is
pointed out, an investigation was made
of serious rear-end collision which
disclosed the fact that the following
train had been running under caution
signal indications for a considerable
speed, and the preceding train had
stopped only short distance in adj
vance of another signal and by the
| time the danger signal was recognized
by the engineman of the following
| train he was too close to the signal to
bring his train to stop before pass
ing it or in time to avert the collision.
1t is insisted by those who have CIV
en- much time and study to this one
problem that the indication of So
called distant signal should convey an
order to the engineman as positive and
definite as the indication of what is
called the "home" signal, instead of
the "slow up" order Of the present
time. The home signal always re-
quires an engineer to stop immediate
ly.
The experts are of the opinion, they
say, that immediate reduction of speed
at caution signal would reduce the
danger of collisions similar to the one
described, as well as the danger of
shock and injury to passengers result
ing from emergency applications of
the brakes The enforcement of such
requirement would, it Is believed by
these interstate commerce officials, al
so create a different habit of thought
on the part of engineers, relieving Ger,
tain nervous tension and insuring that
the train could be stopped safely If
the next signal was in danger posi-.
ton.
1t Is interesting to note in cOnnec'
ton with these wrecks that during the
past year six of the collisions which
occurred in automatic block signal ter,
ritory are said to have been caused by
the failure Of the engineers to obey
the signal indications. Five of these
six occurred on multiple track road
where the block signal equipment was
modern and of the most highly ap'
proved type.-Washington Star.