| In the last, number of
the Gazette is an announcement that a patent for
an improvement in the block system of working
railways has been applied for by Messrs. Ashton
and Cunnington. The improvement thus introduced
is one likely to add materially to the safety of
the signalling system now in use in many parts of
the New Zealand railways. The block system, as it
is usually termed, consists in having the whole
length of any railway divided into sections, with
a signalman's box at each end of such section. The method of
working, in brief, is that before a signalman can
lower his semaphore signal, and thus admit a
train on to one end of the section, he is
instructed by his regulations to telegraph to the
signalmen in charge of the other end of the
section to ask him if the line is clear. On
receiving a reply in the affirmative, he lowers
his own signal and admits the train into the
section. This seems safe enough, and yet, owing
to the carelessness of one person neglecting to
ask about the line being clear that terrible
accident occurred at Windsor on the Victorian
railways, by which so many lives were lost.
The
device of Messrs. Ashton and Cunnington is
intended to obviate as far as possible such a
catastrophe occurring again. It consists of a
small locking apparatus on the signal lever in
each box, by means of which the signal remains
locked at Danger, and can only be operated upon
by the signalman with the knowledge and consent
of the signalman at the far end of the section.
Instead, therefore, of asking if the line be
clear and acting himself on the reply, a
signalman has to ask his fellow at the opposite
end of his section to unlock his switch, so that
he may use it.
This
is done by means of electro magnets, which are
simple and easy of construction. Of course, even
with this safeguard, the system is not quite
infallible, but, really, for practical purposes
it is rendered so, it being extremely improbable
that two men should make a mistake. Sketch plans
and models of the apparatus have been submitted
to the Hon. Minister of Public Works, who
expressed himself as highly pleased with the
idea.
They
have also been inspected by Messrs. Hannay, Low,
Garstin, and Dickenson, and other officials, who
all concur in favorable opinions. Certainly at
such places, for instance, as the Lyttelton
Tunnel, or the main line between Hornby and
Addington, parts where traffic is pretty
constant, this system could be used to great
advantage.
We
have been marvellously free from railway
accidents on our Canterbury lines, but one never
knows what a day may bring forth. The inventors,
encouraged by the opinions of the Minister of
Public Works and the railway officials, have
taken steps to patent their system in the various
Australian colonies, England, and the United
States. - Canterbury paper.
Hawera
& Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1740, 28
September 1887, Page 2
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