PREVENTION OF RAILWAY COLLISIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 11891, 20 May 1903, Page 8

PREVENTION OF RAILWAY COLLISIONS.

A new electrical device for preventing collision between railway trains, and one that seems to be eminently practicable, is now t-ngajing the attention of Continental railway authorities. The invention was lecentlv tested with entire success on one of the' Prussian State lines. With commend ible promptitude, Mr Frank H. Mason, the popular American Consul at Berlin, has devoted a special report to the new device, which, to use his own. words, seems to mark an important advance step in the solution of a difficult and perplexing problem. The n<>w device is the joint invention of Messrs HubertTfirraann and Max Wendorf, and us construction and method of operation are as follow :—Midway between the rails is laid n. light third rail of the ordinary T pattern, the points -of which are so connected as to form a continuous conductor. Centred under the fore part of the ongine is the working instrument, an electrical apparatus inclosed in a square case or jacket occupying a cubic foot of space The instrument is connected with the contact shoe, which slides along the third rail and by wires with a telephone and electric alarm bell in the cab of the engine-driver, and a red incandescent lamp which is lighted by the same impulse that rouses the alarm bell into action. A further improvement of the device sets the electric brakes on the engine or entire train simultaneously with the alarm signal which rounds the bell and lights the lamp. The apparatus is so adjusted and arranged that the engineer can at any moment, by touching a lever, satisfy himself that it is in full working condition. In the tests reterred to above, which were conducted on the main line between Sachsenhausen and Goldstein (near Frankfort), two locomotives had been equipped with ttie new device, and the experiments proceeded as "follows:—Engine 290, on approaching Sachsenhausen at full speed, received the danger signal, and came to a full stop. The driver of 290 then asked by telephone the cause of the signal, and was Informed by the keeper of a crossing, half a mile in front, that a waggon had broken down in crossing the track and obstructed ths line. After ten minutes' wait the engineer of 290 received word bv telephone that the obstruction had been cleared away, and thereupon resumed his

trip. A mile farther on the signal was 1 again sonnded, and the driver was informed (by telephone as before) that the semaphore ! round a curve, and more than half a mile distant, was set at "halt." Thereupon 290 slowed down, and proceeded cautionsly until the ringing ceased, notifying the engineer that the semaphore had changed to " track clear," when the engine resumed full speed. In the tests to prevent collision, engine 1,420 came up rapidly on the same track as 290, which slowed down, and was proceeding cautionsly in consequence of reported danger in front. The moment that 1,420 came within 1,000 metres (1,093 yards) of 290 the signal on both engines began to ring and their red lights to glow. Halting, 1,420 inquired of 290 in front the cause of the alarm, and a complete understanding between the two trains was immediately established. An important point in this connection is that in practice the same warning signal is sounded upon every engine equipped with the apparatus which is on the same track and within the prescribed radius—a kilometre or a mile, as the case may be—from the engine and train which cause the obstruction. If a semaphore be falsely rset at safety, the traio may run past it into a block in which another engine is halted or moving with perfact security that warning will be given in ample time to prevent a collision under any and all conditions of darkness, fog, storm, or mistaken instructions. The invention has other minor points of usefulness, but the foregoing, taken from the official report of the tests, are sufficient to indicate the general method of its operation and the measure of its efficiency. Mr Mason says the German Government have directed that a section of track be equipped with the apparatus for careful, practical experiments, and it is reported that the Government of Ru.<*ia have obtained license to test it in actual service on its new military lines now under construction in Siberia.