The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-08-21
NORTH SHORE HAS /
SAFETY DEVICE.
North Shore Installs New
Crossing Device Which
Eliminates Danger.
OTHERS MAY FOLLOW

An automatic highway barrier which
will actually eliminate all crossing
accidents has been installed by the
North Shore line at the Middle Road
crossing, one mile north of the Racine
Wisconsin, station.
The barrier, and its companion
piece, the "whiplash," are the first
automatic crossing guards of their
kind in the world and it is believed
by company officials, will mark, an
epoch in grade crossing protection.
'"This barrier will eliminate all ac-
cidents at this crossing" said John W.
Stephenson, North Shore Line signal
engineer. Mr.. Stephenson is the de-
signer of many of the important work
ing parts of the barrier and inventor
of the whiplash, and has had personal
charge of their installation.
The whiplash is placed 200 feet from
the center of the tracks at the cross
ing and acts as a warning which is
impossible for the motorists to over
look 1t consists of horizontal bar
which swings out over the highway at
the approach of a train. From this
horizontal bar are suspended Ten
whiplike strips of cable which are
covered with short lengths of bamboo.
Should a careless motorist fail to
notice the illuminated sign at the top
of the bar which reads in big letters
"Train coming" the clatter of the bam-
boo on his windshield and top quickly
bring him to his senses.
The barrier is placed fifty feet from
u oor4o,, 80 tLn ;1racd rio g. waU
at the crossing and will stop passen-
ger car or truck, travelling at top
speed, without danger or injury to its
occupants or damage to the car itself.
Barrier A Solid One.
The barrier is constructed of two
upright structural steel (, columns,
bridged together at the top, and firmly
anchored in concrete at their bases.
Suspended between these columns are
three lengths of steel cable which are
lowered in the path of the motorists
at the approach of train.
Squares of heavy canvas, painted
with diagonal stripes of black and
white, are stretched between these
cables. At the top of the barrier is
a large gong which is used as warn
ing signal, a sign bearing the word
"stop" in large, ruby red illuminated
letters and the words North Shore
Line" in black and white. In addition
there are two large red lights which
are flashed on and off.
When a train reaches point mile
from the crossing the whiplash is set
in motion and four seconds later the
barrier starts down. completing the
closing of the road \ approximately
thirty seconds before the train reaches
the crossing. This operation is made
possible by circuits in the track, an
other recent development in railroad
ing.
1.-THE North Shore line feels proud
of this contribution to the safety of
the public" said officials of the COM
pany today. The barrier has been
carefully tested with automobiles
travelling at rates of speed as high as
sixty miles an hour and has proved
successful.
st is the aim of our company to
keep in the vanguard Of progress in
our field and in this instance we are
way out in front. Our progressive
policies are well known to residents
of the North Shore and it was by
these policies that we were able to
win the Coffin gold medal for twelve
months of the greatest progress in the
country.
awe feel that the patronage of
North Shore residents has made our
success possible and know that they
will share in our pride at this new
achievement"