Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1916 — Searchlight Signal. [ARTICLE]

Searchlight Signal.

The jnore I read of railroad accidents and the precautions against them, especially rear-end accidents, the more am I convinced that my proposition made in print several years, ago is worth the consideration of railfoal managers? writes a correspondent of the New York Times. This proposition was that every train should carry a searchlight somewhere on top of the train, with its rays shooting upward. Such a light, and it need not be a very strong one, would always mark the location of a train, either at rest or in motion, and could be seen under conditions not possible to lights as now used on a level with trains. At night and in heavy weather such a light would be a sure mark always, and even on clear days it could be seen at a safe distance, if not as far away as at night or in foggy weather. The application would not be difficult, nor would the cost be great. Engineers discussed it a little at first, but it was soon dropped, because, I suppose, there was not sufficient power behind the idea to push it. Maybe before the twentieth century ends it will be adopted.