THE RAILWAY SMASH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16567, 3 June 1914, Page 10

THE RAILWAY SMASH.

QUESTION OF THE SIGNALS. DEMONSTRATION BEFORE THE CORONER, [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, June 2. A practical demonstration of the semaphore signal was made to-day for the information of Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., who is conducting the inquest regarding the railway disaster on Wednesday. Counsel for various interested persons were also present. The inquest will be resumed on June 10, and evidence .will then be given, that shortly after tho accident tho signal lever was locked in ilio danger position, but the signal was green for "clear." Attention was given principally to the manner in which the semaphore operates at night. There is only one signal south of Whangamarino, and it was upon this that the driver of the express train had to rely in approaching tho station. Tho length of track between the centre of the station platform and the signal is 604 yards, and the signal is fixed 30ft above the rail Ic-vol on a post 35ft from the centre of the track. The signal stands at the junction of two gradients, for the lino rises toward tho signal and curves into a descending gradient towards the station.. The position selected for the signal is. visible from the preceding mile of track. The actual length of wire connection between the lever and tho signal, including short pieces of chain passed round grooved pulleys to change the direction of the wire is about ten yards greater, so that the connection is formed by about 614 yards of steel wire, seven-eighths of an inch in circumference. The direct distance from the signal level to tho points switch at which the tablet porter, William Donaldson, was engaged when the disaster occurred, is fifty-six feet. Tho semaphore signal consists of an arm or blade, which is pulled down or "off," to indicate that a. train may pass, and to the horizontal or "on " position, indicating "stop." Fixed to the runner end of tho blade is a frame containing red and green glasses, which moves with the blade before a lamp, so that. at night red is shown for danger and green for " Go ahead" or " All clear." The frame holding. coloured glasses is roughly kidney-shaped, and the devico is known as "the spectacles," though tho interval , between the glasses is only a narrow strip of metal forming part of the frames. A partial movement of tho semaphore will give the full green signal, which in darkness obscuring the indication of the semaphore, would appear exactly the same as if the signal had been moved the maximum distance. The experiment has shown that the draw required at the lever to depress fully the semaphore of Whangamarino signal is eleven inches, but this draw is only seven inches at the foot of the post. ' Experiments made at to-day s demonstration showed that a draw of onlv three inches moved the spectacle enough to show full green. The red or green signal is not visible to tho officer operating the signal, his only guide to tho position of the signal is a small white light shining through the back of tho lamp. Part of tho apparatus is an iron shutter which moving with the spectacle obscures this when the semaphore is horizontal and tho signal showing full red. A very sh'ght movement of the central axis moves the shutter sufficiently to obscure tho white light completely and when the signal is being pulled "off" at night the white light disappears long before the green shows from the other side. There is a well-known rule that tho absence of a signal where a signal :'s ordinarily shown must be treated as a danger signal, and where a signalman cannot perceive the white light of a signal which should be at danger it becomes his duty to ascertain whether the lamp is extinguished or tho signal out of order. The obscuration of the . white light by a fractional movement of the signal _ is designed as a guard against an improper display of tho " all clear " signal and is complete long before full green shows. There is an electrical devico known as the "repeater," which is employed in connection with signals that are beyond the range of the signalman's vision. Its indications change from " danger "to " clear'' only when the semaphore has been completely depressed, and the "danger" indicator is restored by the least upward movement of the arm. This devico was not in use at Whangamarino.