NEW WAYS OF RAILWAY SIGNALLING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 218, 9 June 1919, Page 6

NEW WAYS OF RAILWAY SIGNALLING

: —♦ ~~ British engineers built the pioneer railways in all parts of the world, and havo left their stamp upon even the details oi equipment. Thus the methods of signalling adopted on railways aro generally a direct evolution from tho British, system. The development of power-operated instead of hand-operated signals has increased the safety and reliability of signalling,' replacing the heavy labour of former days with tho simple movement of an electric switch. Some railway engineers prophesy that in the near future all' signals will bo worked by electric power, and that the "clear" position will 1)0 up instead of down. At present "a. signal-arm accidentally dropped may give a false "clear" indication. In connection with the "up cleur" arrangement a British railway has adopted an ingenious arrangement of light signals to replace tho old familiar' red and green lights. When the signal is at danger, four whito lights show in a horizontal line. At "caution"' they stand at an upward angle of 45 degrees. At "clear" they are vertical. There is no change in colour, as tho distinctive posiliwi of the lamps is enough to give an unmistakable indication. The mechanism operates not by moving lamps, but by switching on cither the horizontal,' the sloping, or the vortical row automatically as tho signal is operated. Only four electric wires are needed to control tho mechanism.

A public meeting Is to be held in the Concert- Chamber this evening in connection with an appeal for the funds of the Y.M.C.A. The llajror invites citizons to attend. ■ -' ,