Norwich bulletin., 1921-09-30
NEW RAVENS NEW WARNING
 HIGHWAY CROSSING SIGNA,


 Announcement was recently made by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad of the installation at various points on the system, of new warning device for highway crossings over the railroad tracks at grades. Experiments were made by this company covering a long period which resulted in the adop- ton of the Morrison Electric Flashight Highway Crossing Signal not alone be- cause of its reliability and visibility, but as well because of its entire practcabili- ty. The mechanism of the signal is as near perfect as human ingenuity can make it.
 To prevent accidents at grade cross ings has been the earnest desire of the railroad management. and the New Ha- ven has spent much time, money and in- ventive skill in the development of this new warning of danger The purpose in the beginning was to obtain a highway crossing signal that would be distictive, that would immediately attract the seri- ous attention of the highway traveller that would be absolutely reliable, that would be of such a character as to in- dicate danger in so clear a manner as to be thoroughly understood by every person, one that would perform this func- tion without special instructions to the general public and one that would trans init this indication at least a thousand | feet along the highway in either direction | from the crossing.
 To accomplish this was the problem before the engineers who, in appreciation of the varying conditions, considered | successfully the elimination of mechanism and -ir1rp ovtc toll fI,Oeo i ed to climatic conditions and to reduce to a minimum all complications to make 1 it simple. The flashing red electric light i signal adapted to highway crossing ap- l breaches nearer the ideal to meet the | above requisites than any other form of signal now in service. In developing the signal It was natural 1 ly desirable to employ standard equip ment So far as possible not only because | of its availability but because this would | preclude experimentation or the use of untried parts. The basis of it therefore, was the standard high powered sema- phore lamp now in use on the New York l division of the New Haven road. This i lamp consists of a parabolic reflector | equipped with a standard Edison socket which is held in place by an adjusting device so arranged that it can be center ed at any point within certain limits in both the horizontal and vertical | planes. The reflector Is of mirrored glass and is permanently fastened in the l lantern.
 In place of the usual lens or glass of 1 the standard lantern a drum inches deep and 24 inches in diameter is mount ed. The center of this drum is equip ped with a high transmission glass red ] rounded which is concentric with the re- | Hector. Around the upper part of the 1 drum above the red center the words 'swhen red'' have been cut, while under meath. the word Stop" is cut Light from the lantern illuminating the in- | terior of the drum shines through trans parent letters, making these words plain 1 ly seen by any one approaching the | crossing.
 In order to procure an indication of | sufficient spread to be seen at the wd- est angle approaching a highway cross l ing it was necessary to have a special electric light bulb. After several tests it was found that the 40 watt volt 1000 hour New Haven Road special lamp which Is used in the semaphore sign.:' furnished the best result in the cross ing signal, so this was adopted. A; mod . ern incandescent bulbs are rated this is not considered a high efficiency bulb but for the service fer which it IS l chosen it is admirable. and the manner in which it is operated and renewe1 pre- vides an important fa-to; ot safety.
 The circuits for the operation ot the lamp are simple, being connected with the track in such way that when ener- gy is applied, 30 flashes of the lamp per minute are produced and this is consid- cred most suI able and effective. The mechanism is so adjusted that 75 per cent. of the time the lamp Is brightly H. luminated while during the remainder it has dull red glow. Thus at no time while the train is approaching the cross ing is the lamp entirely out. During prac- l tically all abnormal or failure conditions