Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-11
Ball and Mast Protection
Ordered for College Avenue

WV W.
A. decision has been rendered by
tho Public Utilities Commission or
derlng that forthwith. q soon a.
may be, the Maine Central Railroad
shall install at Upper College Ave-
nue. in waterville q signal known a.
q ''ball- and mast" signal and shall
operate the same during 1S hours
following 6 o'clock A. NJ. each day.
that the expense Of the installation
Of such signal shall be borne equally
between the Maine Central Railroad
Co.. and the Waterville. Fairfield &
Oakland Street Railway and that the
expense Of the operation Of such sig
nal during the 16 hours following 8
A. H., each day. shall be borne, one
fourth by the Waterville. Fairfield
4 Oakland Street Railway and the
balance by the Maine Central Rail-
road. The decision Gays:
'This IL a complaint initiated by
the commission and deals with addi-
tional protection at Upper College
Avenue in the city Of Waterville.
The place known as Upper Col
lege Avenue is point where the
Maine Central Railroad crosses this
main travelled highway at a very
acute angle. Along the easterly side
Of this highway are located the
tracks Of the Waterville. Fairfield &
Oakland Street Railway. Owing to
the character Of the angle at which
the railway crosses the highway and
the length Of the crossing resulting
from this angulation. and owing to
the additional fact that two streets
come in at practically right angles
near the crossing. 1t Is rather difficult
to protect the place with gates. In
til q comparatively recent period the
crossing was protected by one flag
man. More recently two such flag
men have been employed. one on
either side Of the tracks of the steam
railway, and these men have worked
in eight hour shifts, necessitating
six men in the protection OF the
crossing during the 24-hour period.
Over this crossing large number Of
regular and special trains pass daily.
Just east Of the crossing the
breaking-up yard of the steam rail-
way begins and a considerable mum =
Der of tracks radiate from this point
into this breaking up yard and into
the repair shops Of the company. In
the shifting movements consider
able number Of light engines or en-
eines with relatively few cars at
tached frequently pass part way or
wholly over this crossing.
dow thoro arc nvQr 1SO
movements by the electric cars over
the tracks Of the steam railroad.
Along the highway very large num-
Der of vehicles and foot passengers
daily go. This results in this cross
ing being a place Of exceeding dam
ger to travellers either upon foot or
in various kinds Of vehicles.
For some time the commission has
felt that the protection as between
moving electric cars and moving en-
zines or trains upon the steam rail-
road has not been sufficient, and our
chief inspector, Mr.. Elmer f. Park
man, has urged upon US the neces-
sity Of having installed what Is
known as ball -and-fnast' protec-
ton at this place. At the hearing 1t
was the opinion of counsel for the
steam railroad that the management
did not recognize the necessity OF
such protection, but subsequent to
the hearing, D. c. Douglass, the fed
eral general manager OF the rail-
road, indicated to us his belief that
ball and-mast protection was re-
ouired. The attorney for the electric
railway expressed a belief that such
protection was not needed and that
the present protection was far bet
ter than that proposed. At the pres
ent time, an electric car when 1t ap-
breaches this crossing from either
direction is to be stopped, the. con-
ductor is to 60 forward to the CEN
ter of the tracks. ascertain whether
any train is coming, and finding that
none is approaching gives to his mo-
torman the signal to come ahead. 1t
is suggested that this protection is
ample and that II a ball-and-mast
signal 10 installed. the motorman and
conductor upon the electric railway
will rely upon the signal man upon
the steam railroad, and instead OF
being additional protection it will
take away from the electric railway
conductor his sense of responsible
ity and will diminish the caution
which he and the motormen have
heretofore exercised.
Opposed to this view is the be-
lief Of steam railway operators ev-
erywhere that this ball-and-mast
protection is positive and along the
lines Of absolute safety. AS operat-
cd, the signal man upon the steam
railway. upon the approach Of an
electric car, raises this ball signal
upon the mast and operators Of any
approaching train seeing the same
know that an electric car il about to
cross tho tracks at grade. This
ho3dS the train or engine. and 1t Is
beaieVeA and confidently asserted
that suoh protection adds to the
safety Of passengers upon the cleo
trio cars and upon the steam rail-
road trains. we. believe this view
to bs the correct one and shall re-
quire the ball -and-mast signal pro-
lection to bs given at this crossing.
THE cost Of installation in the first
instance is approximately $3.50. and
as We understand 1t the managers OF
the steam railroad and the electric
railroad are not in disagreement
that THE cost should b borne equal.
~. But whom the matter Of the op.
GRAFTON Of the signal comes up for
discussion we md that the steam
railroad people feel that this cost
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