Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1911 — DANGER SIGNALS ALONG LINES [ARTICLE]

DANGER SIGNALS ALONG LINES

Some Reason® Why Occasionally They Are Disregarded by the Engineers, Persons unfamiliar with railroad operations doubtless wonder why employees frequently disregard signals when so ‘much depends upon their proper observance of them. An e» planation may be found in the old saw: “Familiarity breeds contempt." Day after dav, night after night, an engineman runs over his road finding signals showing “clear” as they appear wifhin 'range of his vision. It becomes natural to take for granted that they will so appear. Perhaps in a moment of inattention he finds himself running past a red one, and stops his train only to discover that either the train ahead had not quite passed out of the “block” or that the towerman had failed to show the clear signal when he should have done so. One or two experiences like this causes an engineman to feel that ft would not have made much difference if he had continued on his way, and thereafter, especially if he happens to be behind time, he may take chances on going ahead, particularly in the case of a long block. He knows that even if the train ahead was obliged to stop in the block, a brakeman under the rules must go back to warn following trains. But the brakeman also remembers that the towerman IS required to display his signal of danger until the train is reported “out," and he, the brakeman, is consequently not so vigilant about going back in the rear of the halted train as far as the rules require. Consequently, a dangerous condition Is created.—Manufacturers’ Record.