Show ASPEN TUNNEL DANGER I ITI IT u S Scientists Find Ways To Lessen Hazard 1 of Gases G-ases W WASHINGTON D p C July 2 24 t- t The Tho engine crews who drive the modern monster types ot of o loco loco- locomotive loco loco- locomotive locomotive motive through the longer tunnels of American railways are frequent frequent- frequently frequently ly IV expos d to the presence ot of deadly carbon monoxide gas and to withering temperatures ranging r up to degrees Fahrenheit states State the tho department ot of the In- In interior In Interior as aj tho the result ot of o an Investigation Investigation gation gatlon conducted by the tho bureau of at mines in railroad tunnels In Utah and Wyoming Hot exhaust gases are the source ot of o danger from ex- ex exposure ex exposure to tunnel atmospheres Many serious accidents have oc- oc occurred occurred oc occurred in these tunnels duo to asphyxiation or exhaustion of or the locomotive crews caused by expos expos- exposure exposure ure to atmospheres containing carbon car car- carbon car carbon bon monoxide or to atmospheres atmosphere lol of at a high temperature and satur satur- saturated saturated with moisture These Theo hazards are re accentuated by a group of at o les less Importance consisting of sulphur hydrogen sulphide soot and steam accompanied by the de- de decrease de decrease crease creaso oxygen oX ox gen content ot of o the tho ale air ADVISE E CHANGES CUA The Interior recommends recommends recommends mends the use of smoke deflectors on locomotives operating In tunnel districts as a means of o reducing the hoard due to high temperatures I and the use of o the train brake air air line as aa a 0 source ot at air tor fo for breathing purposes for lor members of o engine crews The object Interior department's depart depart- department's ments ment's Investigation conducted by bythe bythe bythe the bureau of mines in operation co-operation With nith the Union Pacific railroad was to determine the cause of gass gass- gassIng gassing ing accidents by examining Into composition of o the air In n locomotive cabs while passing through rail railroad roar tunnels to learn the tho effect of ot these conditions on the engine crew and to provide a means of ot protection for tor the men so exposed Of at 40 0 trips cond conducted in cabs of locomotives while the trains were passing through tunnels carbon monoxide was found to be present on 34 trips The operation of 2 24 trains of at ap- ap approximately ap approximately proximately 2000 tons each In a normal running time of o 6 minutes through the Aspen tunnel in Wyo Wyo- Wyoming Wyo- Wyo Wyoming Wyoming ming showed cab temperatures of lIt degrees Fahrenheit dry bulb degrees wet bulb and a rela rein relative relative tive Live humidity of 90 per cent The maximum dry bulb temperature recorded on any of ot the 40 tests conducted was degrees while the he m maximum wet bulb tempera tempera- t temperature ture turo uro was IH degrees The time consume In the p sage passage of the trains rains varied from 4 to 25 min min- minute min ute Results of ot ph physiological tests over iver periods of 10 minutes showed hat the he conditions in the cabs night be severe enough to cause or exhaustion In per per- perIods per periods of ot 20 O minutes especially In Incases uses where the engine is stalled Pocket respirator and other types of t gas masks packed with soda soda- soda lime mixtures afforded protection against smoke and su sui- sui su- su gases Carbon monoxide masks naska afforded protection against all ll of the gases encountered Some discomfort was experienced In wearing yea nag gas gaB masks ks in atmospheres at f high temperature and humidity 00 00 |