SAFETY ROBOTS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11493, 21 November 1931, Page 7

SAFETY ROBOTS

GUARD BRITISH RAILS

LONDON. Sept. 21. The ’‘Great Western Railway has now brought the whole of its mam line system under automatic safety control. This has meant the fitting of the necessary devices at signal .points, on .2130 miles of track and on some 2)500 engines. . Tho control mechanism consists of a, 40-foot 1 steel bar placed between the rails near the “distant” signal, and projecting' 3$ inches above the running rails. The lever m tho signal box which actuates the signal is eiectricallv connected .to the steel bar. When the signal As at “dano-er,” the steel bar is. electrically, out of action, but when at “all clear,” the pulling of the lever, in •.the signal- box completes the electric circuit and energizes the bar. The engine is fitted with, a shoe which is within 2J inches of the rail level. Asi the .engine passes over the •steel bar the T-shaped head, of tho shoe comes in contact with it, and .is lifted one inch. The, value of this system in this weather . cither by day or night is obvious, as the driver gets plain audible warning of the State of the track ahead- of- him. He can hear his way oven, if lie cannot see it. Both passenger , and ) 'freight traffic can ,bo speeded up. and more punctualworking is the result.