The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-09-21
Men Who Pilot Trains Through
Tunnels Literally Take Lives
in Their Hands.

uSuluBtOu.-ln ne tnBluc SICWo wiz
drive the modern monster types Of To-
comotives through the longer tunnels
Of American railways are frequently
exposed to the presence of deadly car
bon monoXide gus and to withering
temperatures ranging up tC 136 de-
grees Fahrenheit. states the Depart
ment of the Interior, as the result of
an investigation conducted by the bu-
reau Of mines In Utah and Wyoming.
Hot exhaust gases are the source OF
danger from exposure to tunnel at
mospheres. Many serious accidents
have occurred in these tunnels due to
asphyxintion or exhaustion Of the To-
comotive crews, caused by exposure to
atmospheres containing carbon monox-
ide. or to atmospheres of high tenn
perssure and saturated with moisture.
These hazards are accentuated by a
group of less Importance consisting OF
sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide,
SCOT and steam, accompanied by the
decreased oxygen content of the air.
Suggested Remedy.
Tla Interior department recon-
menGs the use of smoke detlectors on
locomotives operating in tunnel dis
trict& as means of reducing the haz-
ard due to high temperatures, and
the nse of the train air-brake line as
d source of air for breathing purposes
FOR members of engine crews.
Tho object of the Interior depart
ment's investigation, conducted by the
bureau of mines in cooperation with
the Union Pacific railroad, was to de-
termine the cause of gassing accidents
by examining into composition of the
air i'm locomotive cabs while passing
through railroad tunnels; to learn the
effect Of these conditions on the en-
gine crews, and to provide a means
Of protection for the men so exposed.
Gas samples and temperature read
lngs taken in the cabs of locomotives
were used In studying the atmospheric
conditions to which the locomotive
crews were exposed. The symptoms
and the physiological effects produced
In men exposed to the atmospheres en-
countered were studied. The pulse
rates and body temperatures were
taken and determinations of the car
bon !monoxide content of the blood
were made. Various methods for the
prevention Of gassing and for the pro
lection of men therefrOm were con-
sidered and tested. among which were
the use of mechanical devices for de-
fecting the smoke away from the en-
CINE cab and the use Of various types
Of gas masks and breathing apparatus.
OF forty trips conducted In cabs Of
locomotives while the trains were pass
ing through tunnels, carbon monoxide
was found to be present on thirty
four trips.
Extreme Temperature.
The operation of "a trains of approx
imately 1000 tons each, In normal
running time Of six minutes through
the Aspen tunnel In Wyoming showed
cab temperatures of ia degrees Fab.
~enheit (dry bulb), Ill degrees (wet
bulb) and relative humidity of 90
per cent. The maximum dry-bulb tenn
perature recorded on any of the forty
tests conducted was 136 degrees, while
the maximum wet-bulb temperature
was 124 degrees. The time consumed
In the passage of the trains varied
from Az minutes to 25 minutes.
Results of physiological tests over
periods of ten minutes showed that
the conditions in the cabs might be
severe enough to cause asphyxiation
or exhaustion in periods of 20 minutes,
especially in cases where the engine
rs stalled.
Pocket respirator and other types of
gas masks, packed with soda-lime
charcoal mixtures, afforded protection
against smoke and sulphurous gases.
Carbon monoxide masks afforded pro-
lection against all Of the gases en-
-ountered. Some discomfort was ex-
perienced In wearing gas masks in at
mospheres Of high temperature and hu-
midity, however.
Mechanical methods for DETECTING
the smoke, by using the force of the
exhaust In conjunction with hood or