A Radio-equipped Railway Coach

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 25, 2 January 1931, Page 8

A Radio-equipped Railway Coach

For Use in Emergencies "THE recent earthquake in Southern Italy caused considerable attention to be drawn to the wireless coach of the Italian State Railways.. ‘This is a special eight-wheel coach, which ‘comprises not only a complete telegraph and telephone equipment but also a wireless installation consisting of three transmitters and three re ceivers. This coach was specially built and equipped with radio for the purpose of being placed at railways points in or near zones which have been dit turbed by events such as earthquakes inundations, lava eruptions, and so on. At such places it is essential to red establish telegraphic and telephonic communications, which, as a rule, are interrupted, with a view to maintaining contact with the central authorities. The wireless equipment has been provided for use in those cases where the telegraph or telephone lines have been destroyed or otherwise put out of working order over a large zone near the railway. ‘The apparatus provided comprises three transmitters and three receivers, One complete station (transmitter and receiver) remains permanently in position in the coach, while the other two form separate flying stations, which can be transported considerable distances and still keep in touch with the coach station. The fixed transmitter is a 50-watt short-wave set, while the receiver cov- . ers a range of wavelengths of from ., 12 to 100 metres. Both transmitter and receiver utilise the metallic frame of the carriage and permanent way rails as an earth, the aerial being supported on. two telescopic lattice masts about 20 feet‘in height and :40 feet apart. These masts are hinged so that they can be placed -horizontally along the -roof when the coach is travelling. ‘ The two flying stations are similarly equipped, except that the aerial of each is supported by a tower about 80 feet high, To the top of. this is attached one end of the aerial wire, while the other end is usually attached to a tree or convenient ‘high point. Mhe counterpoise, in the form of a wire, is generally stretched out on the ground. The power supply is obtained from light motor-generator sets. ’ Fortunately, since it has been available the wireless coach has had 23. call co duty until the recent disaster . in the form of an earthquake-x (ith befell Southern Italy. ‘The coach s then sent, attached to. a first-aid train, to the affected zone, and was .placed at a- station which formed the junc‘tion of four mountain railway lines. .There, in conjunction with the two fly--ing stations, which were disposed more -to the south, it did excellent work, communicating successfully ‘with the central authorities as far north as Rome, a distance of about 200, miles.