| Show TO ABOLISH RAILROAD COL it Is expected by general manager goodnow and other officials of the chicago and alton says the railway world that all the companas comp anys engines will be equipped by september 1 with the new wireless block signaling apparatus now under manufacture in the alcons shops at bloomington under the system adopted the invention of francis J green each engine carrying ts own wireless signal apparatus pa ratus constitutes the centre of a moveably moveable move able block traveling with the train stopping when the train stops and affording effective protection for a radius of say two miles front and rear the radius for this danger zone may be greater or less according to the requirements of any particular railroad but once determined upon it must be invariable for all trains on that road Und erthe eye of the engineer in tho cab is an indicator which keeps him informed every of conditions within the block of which ho Is the constant centre it a train approaches within two miles to the rear a green light shows on the indicator and a warning bell calls his attention it the intruding train is within two miles in front a red light flashes and the bell rings variations in the stroke of the bell and the flashes of light tell whether the other train is moving a the samo or opposite direction to that on which tho signals aro received for instance on a road running east and west the standard signal may ba a single stroke ot the bell and a single flash of light for all trains running east to west and a triple stroke of the bell and triple flash of light tor all trains running west to east with an interval of tour seconds between signals the colored light continues to flash and the bell to ring so long as there are two trains within the danger zone these signals are reciprocal and tho engineers on both trains receive their warnings at the same in stant so long as the rack Is clear for two miles front and rear a steady white light burns on the indicator and the bell Is silent the apparatus which accomplishes this ts mounted on tho top of tha en gine cab and consists of a wave transmitter and receiver absolutely automatic in their action nad fully protected from injury or the possibility lity of being tampered with the transmitting mechanism is so constructed ted that it automatically sends out a constant stream of regularly recurrent signals effective throughout the predetermined radius the receiving instrument on caan Is insensible to the signals sent out by its companion transmitter but Is affected the instant another train approaches from front or rear within the fixed danger zone the signals are entirely aerial as in tho marconi telegraph system and the apparatus has no connection whatever with track or wires an important feature 0 this method of signaling Is the fact that bad weather such as snow rain fog or electrical storms has no influence upon the transmission and reception ot signals in fact the signals are rather clearer in heavy weather than otherwise it Is of course essential that signals should bo received only by trains on the same track on which they are transmitted to achieve this use has been made of the principle known as the polarization of the wave the apparatus is BO constructed that the wave can enter only such receiver as is adjusted to the transmitter from which it emanates by this meana trains may bo running side by side on double or four track lines and the signals emitted on any one track cannot be received by trains on any other track athla system coee away entirely with signal towers semaphores and signalmen sign almen and precludes the possibility of mistakes on the part of the engineer general manager goodnew declares that he has absolute confidence in tha success of the system |
