RADIO ON MILE-LONG TRAIN

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 39, 13 April 1928, Page 16

RADIO ON MILE-LONG TRAIN

GUARD TALKS TO ENGINE-DRIVER An American Associated Press message from Albany, New York State, dated January 26, stated.-A new chapter in railroad history was written today, when, for the first time, the front and rear ends of a inile-long moving freight train maintained two-way communication by radiophone with a railway signal tower. i. W. Rice, Jun., FE. P. Edwards, and W. B. Potter, officials of the General Tlectric Company, where the radio equipment was designed, talked from the signal tower at Sonth Schenectady, to J). B. Fleming, general manager, and

#H. C. Keenan, general superintendent of telephones and telegraphs of thie New York Central system, on hoard a New York Central freight train. The General Electric Company men questioned the railroad executives concerning the efficiency of the new radio control of the train, and the railroad men replied that it was successful in every aspect, One Hundred and Eleven Cars. The train, consisting of 111 cars, and more than a mile in length, made the. run from the New York Central train yards at Selkirk, near here, to Utica, with caboose (guard’s van), and locomotive cab in constant communication, She order to start the train was given from the caboose to the engineman, more than a mile ahead, and instructions for the Utica stop were transmitted in the same way. Railroad executives on hoard the train expressed the belief that radio installation on long freights eventually would become universal. Tleretofore, communication between cab and caboose has

been either through the medium of visible signals such as flags or lanterns, or by the necessarily restricted dot and dash code, by locomotive whistle or compressed air line. A Remarkable Aid. The use of the radio in freight operation is expected to lessen the delays resulting from defective equipment, inasmuch as the engine driver can be informed instantly regarding the trouble, instead of waiting until a trainman negotiates the long, and at times perilous, route from caboose to locomotive. It also facilitates the cutting of cars on sidings, as well as abating the danger of accident to trainmen while running over the tops of cars in stormy weather. Equipment Described. ‘Transmitting and loudspeaking receiving apparatus were installed in both locomotive and caboose. The 50-watts power for the transmitter was furnished on the front end of the train by the locomotive headlight generator, and in the caboose by a generator harnessing. the power developed by the revolving axles. The signals were transmitted on a wave hand of 109 to 180 metres. The locomotive transmitter was placed in suspension springs in the rear of the tender, with a brass rail actine as an antenna. ‘The cahoose transmitter’ was stowed in a closet, while a wire strung along the roof supplied the aerial.