RAILWAY SIGNALS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5286, 13 June 1928, Page 2

RAILWAY SIGNALS.

o ELECTRIC INTER-LOCKING SYSTEM INSTALLATION AT PAEROA. After connecting up and making exhaustive tests on Sunday, the electric power ipter-locking system, with three-position coloured light signals, was brought into use in time for the first train to leave the Paeroa railway 'Sftation on Monday last. The new system, which, is ope Of the largest installations in the North Island, facilitates the, working of trains at the local station and yards, and allows every movement, to be made with the utmost safety and security, as the system will not allow of any two trains being on the same line together within, tlie compass of the signals. Each point is worked by a small motor .and ’is controlled by the principal machine in the station) office. This, machine, which was manufactured by McKenzie and Holland (Australia), Ltd., is a 32-lever one, and works either points or signals. Each movement is electrically controlled for a distance of over, hilf a mile on both the north and southside of the station, and is- recorded on a large diagram in t.he office, an ingenious system of coloured lights showing the exact, position of trains and whether, the line is clear or notThe principal lights are either, yellow, or green, while at the ba.se bW each of the 32 levers a red light is displayed continuously to show that each lever is in operation and? is functioning accurately. Tb the average layman Hooking at the mass of electrical equipment in the office the system presents a veritable conundrum, but once the Hay.out of the station yard is mastered and the effect of each signal’s, action on the lighted diagram when the train crosses certain points is understood, the operation is a very simple matter and can be controlled by any of the clerical staff on duty in the office. In the event of there being a failure of electric power at any time, pi’ovision has been made by the installatlion of two operating switches; whereby the signal® and- points can be operated quite s-imply by manual power. By ingenious .automatic -devices care has been taken to see that no risk of danger, can occur to a person manually operating the points and suddenly finding that the electric power has been restored.

The new system, which saves, much labour and loss of time, especially.during shunting operations, was installed by the Railway Department, Messrs R. A. Abel, chief signal inspector, Auckland, and C. W. Hollis, electrical inspector, being associated with the work. The actual constructional and installation work was carried! out under the supervision of Mr E. H. Pritchard by a gang of men specially trained for such work. At the present time Mr J. 'Walsh, automatic signal instructor, is at Paeroa instructing the staff in the manipuilation of the new system.