The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-24
SOUTHERN ROAD IS TO INSTALL
 BLOCK SIGNALS
Line From Birmingham To Atlanta Soon Will
 Be MOderniZed
ORDER IS PLACED FOR
 ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Every Mile And Half To Be A Block, Total Distance Is
 About 150 Miles

To increase the capacity of it's line and provide for the rapidly growing vol- ume of business moving east from the Birmingham district, the Southern railway system will immediately in- stall the automatic electric block signal system on the entire line between Bif- mingham and Atlanta and will com struct two telephone circuits, to substi. tute the telephone for the telegraph for dispatching trains between Birminghan and Atlanta, according to announce ment made by James Freeman, divisioa passenger agent, Saturday.
 Contract Awarded
 Contract has been let to the General Railway Signal company, which will in- stall signals of the new color-light type over nine miles of double track east of Birmingham and the remaining 139 miles of single track from the end of double track to Austell, Ga. Automatic signals are already in service on the double track line between Austell and Atlanta, and over the entire double track line between Atlanta and Wash ington.
 The system will consist of POP signals, so located that the blocks will be ap- proximately one and one-haf miles in length, and will be operated by alter hating current furnished from substa- tions at Birmingham, Atlanta and two intermediate points. Current of 4,400 volts will be transmitted over a special line to be constructed on the right of way, with transformers to step the cur rent down to 110 volts at each signal station. The current will also be used for lighting stations.
 Automatic Signals
 The automatic signals not only pro- tect trains against the possibility of col- lisions, but will also detect the pres ence of/a broken rail, open switch, or any other break in the line, or of a car on a side track too close to the main line.
 Engineers approaching a signal and seeing the red light displayed will know that train is in the first block ahead and must stop. Should they find an orange light displayed. they will know that train is in the second block ahead and must proceed with caution. When they find green light displayed they will know that they may proceed at full speed as the track is clear of all obstructions and no train nearer than two blocks ahead.
 koAORbVttO fAlBU
 The telephone is being adopted by the Southern for dispatching on it's lines of heaviest traffic, as it has several ad- yantages over the telegraph. Service is quicker and it is easier to guard against errors. The dispatcher writes the order as he sends it, spelling out all figures, such as engine numbers, train numbers, and time. The receiver writes the order as he receives 1t and then repeats it to the dispatcher, spell. ing out all figures. The telephone brings the sender and receiver into close touch and, in emergencies, the dispatcher can talk personally to the conductor or engineer of any train on his division.
 The two telephone circuits win also provide third, or phantom circuit, for use between the offices in Birmingham and Atlanta and intermediate points and simplex circuit which can be used for sending messages by telegraph with out interfering with the use of the lines for telephoning.
 During 1923 the Southern extended two passing tracks and constructed three new ones at pinch points and has made other important improvements iu the Birmingham-Atlanta line.