Railway Signaling In Theory And Practice

PREFACE. In the ensuing pages, it has not been my intention to treat the subject of railway signaling as practiced in America in anything but an elementary way. Even the elements are not always readily grasped by persons who have not had some practical railway experience, and are at least somewhat familiar with the ordinary methods pursued in constructing tracks, moving trains and in the nomenclature used by those whose daily life is spent in actual railway operation. My object has been to supply a want which I myself felt sorely at the beginning of my career as a Signal Engineer-that of an elementary text book bearing on the subject. The matter was originally compiled with a view to publishing it serially, and indeed nearly one-half of it has already appeared in that way. Although I have taken as much time as it was possible for me to spare from a busy life to arrange and revise the matter in proper form for its present appearance, I cannot but feel that I may have left a great deal yet to be done. I can only say that I have tried to do my best and that I hope the book will be well enough received to give me a chance to make any revisions which may appear advisable in a later edition. I have taken the liberty fully to express my own opinions where I have thought necessary, and have always endeavored to impress on the readers mind that they were such so that he could take them for what they are worth. 4 After more than eighteen years spent in the operating department of a large railroad, and nearly seven years as its Signal Engineer, I cannot but feel that these opinions must be worth something now if they ever will be. The reader must judge for himself. I wish to take this opportunityof acknowledging much valuable assistance in collecting matter and preparing illustrations rendered me in this work by Messrs. Theodore C. Seifert, Frank Lyman Beckwith, Charles W. Breed, and Wm. F. Zane. I shall be glad at any time to receive suggestions from any reader for the improvement of the book. 1404 East Fifty-sixth Street, Chicago, Ill. October I, 1909. J IV. VI. VII. VIII. J IX. J X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. xv. j XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTO . R . . Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 INTERLOCKING-MECHANICA . L . . . . . . . 35 INTERLOCKING----POW . . . E . R . . . . . . . . . . 56 LEADOUT A S N D GROUNCDO NNECTION . S6. 6 COMPENSATIO - P UO FFSET - S FOUNDA TIONS .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 LOCKIN A G N D OPERATINDGE VICES . . . . . 91 SIGNAL - S BOLTL OCK - S SELECTORSMECHANICASLL OTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 DERAIL - S GENERARL EMARK O S N ME CHANICAL INTERLOCK . I . N . . G . . . . . . 119 POWERIN TERLOCKIN . . G . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 ELECTRO-PNEUMAINTTICE RLOCKIN . G . .1. 39 ELECTRO-PNEUMAINTTICE RLOCKING CONTINUED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 LOWP RESSURPEN EUMATIICN TERLOCK ING .............................. ALL ELECTRICIN TERLOCKINGGEN ERAL 167 RAILWAYSI GNALC OMPANYTSY PE. . 174 OTHERT YPES O F POWEIRN TERLOCK 1 I 9 N 2 G LOCKING AN D DOGS HEETS . . . . . . . . . . . 212 POWER D ISTANT S IGNA - L S CR OSSING BARS-TIME LOCKS-ELECTRILCO CKING-SWITCH PROTECTISOIGNN ALS.. 2 47 NIGHT INDICATIONS-MANUABLL OCK ING - CONTROLLEMDA NUALB LOCKING-ELECTRIC SLOTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 A U T o M A T I CSIGNALS-AUTOMATIC J TRAIN STOPS ..................... 294 J o I N T WORK --7 CONTRAC - TS P UBLIC AUTHORITIES-ESTIMATE . S . . . . ...