RADIO CONTROL OF TRAINS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16534, 29 December 1927, Page 3

RADIO CONTROL OF TRAINS

. GREAT PROGRESS REPORTED. TESTS WILL CONTINUE. Predictions of decided development of the radio control of trains are made by a sub-committee of the telegraph'and telephone- section of the American Railway Association, which recently held its national convention in Washington, D.C. With the co-operation of the General Electric Co. at Schenectady, N.Y.,' and the New York Central Railroad, the committee now believes the era of control of trains by radio is at hand and the necessary equipment now obtainable. '

Tremendous progress is reported in recent experiments. To this end a modern locomotive and. caboose were recently sent- to the yards of the General Electric Co. The locomotive and caboose were placed about 8000 ft. apart and were not in motion during the preliminary tests. The radio apparatus for both locomotive and caboose are duplicates. The sets arc constructed in heavy metal boxes, inside of which they are floated on springs to absorb vibration and snubbed to dampen the movements and prevent any mechanical oscillations. The transmitters and receivers are tuned for the proper wave length, and then the dials are locked. When in service no adjustments are to be made except one dial for regulating the loudness, so that it may be satisfactory for differently sensitive cars.

CALLING THE ENGINEER, Calling was accomplished by means of a howler or loud-speaker which,,■ when operated, emitted a howl, the loudness and pitch of which is easily heard above the ordinary noises of a running locomotive. This was operated by operating a button in the other station when wishing to make the call. The receiver is necessarily operating, at all,times to receive any calls or signals. After calling, conversation is carried on as with a standard telephone. ' Two methods of operation —the simplex, which means a single-frequency system which can transmit alternately from either end, and the duplex, which means a double-frequency system, which can transmit arid receive sirnuL tancously from each end —arc used. During these tests both operations were demonstrated, so that the advantages of each could be observed. Tho antennae were erected on the locomotive "on each side of the boiler and the aerials were'stretched between suitable supports and extended from the stack to the rear of the cab roof. On the caboose the antennae were mounted on eaeh side above the root. The receiving set was in the left tool box of the tender, ' the transmitting apparatus in the right tool box. The control box, with microphone and receiver, were back of the engineer, the loud-speaker being hung from the cab roof. GENERATOR INSTALLED. The battery and power control apparatus were placed on tho rear deck of tlio tender by the box containing the train control relays. A scconu turbine-driven generator was installed on the locomotive to charge the batteries, this being necessary because tho full capacity of the first is used for engine lighting and the train control. The apparatus on the caboose was mounted in the various cupboards, the receiving set being on one side of the car, the transmitter on the other. The control box, microphone receiver and loud-speaker were on the wall above the conductor’s desk, the batteries under the geats.

The first fun was made between Selkirk and Utica, N.Y., on July 20, 1927. The trip was successful and clearly showed the value of the apparatus. Additional trips have been made and different schemes tried out. The mechanical action of the sets has been watched carefully, and the trainmen have given many valuable suggestions and have aided and encouraged all the experiments. As a result of these experiments a new set has been installed for tests, replacing the original equipment. The tests will continue until the committee is satisfied that a knowledge of all phases of the work has been gained and tho reliability of the sets definitely proved.