Machine-Made Safety

The fallible human equation of the locomotive engineer which has caused so many fatal train wrecks will be completely eliminated by a system of automatic train control tried out with " extremely encouraging results " on a 50-mile stretch of track of the Pennsylvania Railroad between Lewistown Junction and Sunbury, Pa. It is a combination of electrical, pneumatic and mechanical devices applied to both track and locomotive. The track is electrified with alternating current. The locomotive picks up the current by induction. This power operates three cab signals to the engineer, but at the same time turns on the air-brakes if the train is too near another, is exceeding proper speed or approaching an open switch. The signals are for full speed ahead with two " blocks" clear, medium speed with one block clear, and stop when within 1,800 feet of a train or switch. Whether the engineer fails to do his part or not, he cannot run his train into danger. Should the control system itself get out of order, all trains in the block would be automatically stopped.

The system has now been in regular operation for several weeks on the Lewistown branch, after a year's preliminary trial. All freight and passenger trains have been controlled by it. Whether it will increase or decrease the carrying capacity of trackage is not yet known. The tests were conducted by A. H. Rudd, chief signal engineer of the company.