From the archives at Steamtown the following letter appears: Hoboken, N. J., Mar. 4, 1931. Scheme for Detecting Dragging Equipment by J. J. Graf. Mr. E. B. Moffatt, General Superintendent, Dear Sir: After conferring with you on the 2nd regarding Mr. Graf’s scheme for detecting dragging equipment as described in attached papers ending with his letter of February 26th to you, I was in his office and he brought up the same subject mentioning a change that improves it. This change consists in running two instead of one wire to avoid the ground circuit to which I had objected and he furthermore suggested that it be used approaching an interlocking tower where we can provide a means for notifying the Leverman, who can then stop a train by means of the signals already provided. Since returning to Hoboken, I have discussed this scheme with Mr. Neafie on account of the fact that the frame work carrying lead or find copper wire must be mounted on top of the ties. We agree with Mr. Neafie that the scheme is worth trying at one location, at which time it can be determined whether the benefit obtained overbalances the possible objections, which I will mention. The detecting device should be located at least two signals back from the home interlocking signals at a tower, for example, on the eastward track west of Henryville. This must allow sufficient time after the dragging equipment breaks the wire in the detector for the Leverman to receive audible indication and place home and distant signals in their Stop and Caution positions respectively before the engine of the train has passed the latter. The possible objections are, that to be of very great use a number of these detectors must be placed in the tracks as they will effect trains intermittently and the sections through which damage has occurred in the past are of considerable length. Thus, they will interfere with flanger operation and will necessitate the placing of a number of signs. They will also interfere with tie tamping and the wires running to them will be subject to breakage during such an operation. It should not cost very much to try out the scheme and both Mr. Neafie and I join with Mr. Graf in recommending that this be done. The signal portion of the expense, which will be that of providing visible and audible indications in the tower and the battery for operating them, should not amount to more than $30.00 by utilizing materials already on hand. Yours truly, J. E. Saunders Signal Engineer Cc: AJN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is document 49 of 52 in a folder entitled: DL&W RR--General Superintendents Correspondence--19166: Train control, Drag Detector--Patent (1931-1941) Patrick McKnight Historian/Archivist Steamtown NHS 570-340-5193 We need history, not to tell us what happened or to explain the past, but to make the past alive so that it can explain us and make a future possible.-Alan Bloom The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List http://EL-List.railfan.net/ To Unsubscribe: http://Lists.Railfan.net/erielackunsub.html ------------------------------
This HTML page is © 2000-2008 Blue Moon Online System and The Railfan Network
This page and the data contained therein may not be reproduced
for any form of commercial use without the explicit permission
of J. Henry Priebe Jr. or his duly authorized agent.