Year: 1876

ASoN ID SASSo0AHSsy SAAkies w uSu suc
section is entirely clear white light or


target is shown but when train enters
the section or 'tblock,'' IS it is termed


"A red one is displayed. and this indi.
Gates that no other train can follow un.
til the white color shows that the divis.
ion is again clear. Presuming that .
train has just entered . ''block," and
the red light debars all others from i'm
mediately following, let US in imagination
whirl along with the moving cars and
note the next movement. Only a few
moments is required to pass over the
''block, "and as the white light at the
next section is displayed the iron horse
speeds rapidly op from the first division
to the second. The instant it passes the
line the fact is telegraphed back to the
commencement Of the block. the red light
is superseded by the white, and the next
train dashes in. Before the rear train
has cleared the first block the engine
has passed into the third section, and as
the telegraph says and the white light
indicates that the second block is again
clear, the rear train can speed along into
the second without danger. Thus section
after section is occupied by train after
train, and as they dash onward there is a
constant pulsation of intelligence all
along the line btcween the two cities, of
which the passengers on the trains are
totally unconscious. They do not realize,
as they sweep on with the speed of the
wind. that their every moment is record.
ed by the finger of electricity, shooting
back and forth with the velocity of light.
Should any delay occur, the trains could
be obliged to stop on whatever block
they happened to occupy, and as every
subdivision OF the road belongs to the
train which is in at the time, there can
BE- ne possibility Of collision or danger
from trains in the rear. When the OBJ
struction is removed the delayed engine
passes on, the telegraph notes the fact,
white lights take the place Of red, and
again all are whirling along to their des-
tination. Besides the numerous passen.
ger trains there is great number of
freight trains constantly in motion.
These have to make their way along as
best they can, being careful to keep al
ways out of the way Of passenger trains.
Knowing just what time they can make.
and also when the passenger trains are
due at any point, the conductors and en-.
ginecrs always manage to make some
convenient side track in time to escape
the collision. When freight
train is running on any block or sec.
tion. great signal is shown, which
Indicates that succeeding trains
may follow with caution. If the next
train carries passengers, it is the business
of the freight to get out Of the way;if it
is also freight train it will probably not
overtake its predecessor. Some of the
principal side tracks have telegraph sta
tions at both ends, so that no time need
be lost by train hands. There are proba.
bly, more than fifty telegraph Offices
scattered along the ninety miles of road.
The arrangements usually work so per.
fectly that it is seldom necessary for any
train to halt before entering a block.
Signal follows signal in quick succession
along the line, indicating perfect safety
upon the crowded hig ghway. At the
Superintendent Office in Jersey City a
large chart is kept, on which is marked a
record Of the progress of each train upon
the road as recorded by telegraph. The
officers arc thus able to sec the position
of affairs at all times. A train cannot be
a minute behind at any station without
the fact being instantly known at head.
quarters. 1t will be seen from this that
not only are all the engineers and con.
ductors in constant cognizance Of the
movement Of the trains both ahead of and
behind them, but their own position can
be determined at glance by those to
whom they are directly responsible.