IN THE GALRE OF THE HEADLIGHT
by George J. OliverFor one man operation, Santa Fe switch engines, and some freight engines are equipped with an electronic device called (it says on the black box in the cab) "Alerter, the dead man control," instead of a dead man pedal.
Made by a big railway supply company, rumor has it that it was thought up by a brilliant young Santa Fe air brake supervisor. Regardless of its origin, in operation it puts the engineer in an electronic harness. His every move is sensed. Unless the engine is standing with the brake set, the engineer must touch, or, if touching, untouch, some part of the controls every fifteen seconds, Otherwise the alerter starts beeping and a red light flashes. Any move previously mentioned will then annul the alarm, as will touching a button provided for that purpose.
If no response to the alarm is made in twelve seconds, the automatic brake will apply. Unless this in turn is not stopped by pressing another, or reset button, it will completely deplete the brake pipe bringing the engine or train to a stop.
If the device sounds complicated, in practice it is soon gotten used to and is less tiring than holding down a dead man pedal. Normal moves in switching operations keep the alerter happy. If it does beep, any slight move will quite it. Oh, yes, a friendly type Big Brother is watching.
THE LIBRARY
It may suprise the readers to know that the main branch of the San Diego Public Library has a large collection of railroad books. The writer has been taking two or three out every other week for some time. And having gone through most of the lot, is willing to share them with others. The best thing about the books is that they are all quite old, as such things go, and, perhaps, the more interesting for that, and have many steam pirctures.
REPORT Report is the official publication of the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association, Incorporated of San Diego County, California.
Officers are:
Stanton W. Kerr, president; Lee B. Adams, vice president; and Vic Koenigsberg, treasurer.Report Staff includes:
Charles Kent, editor; George Geyer, circulation and Kent Anderson, publicity.Museum address is:
1050 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, California 92101.Report address is:
4064 47th Street, San Diego, California 92105.ALL THURSDAY NIGHT WORK PARTIES
7:30 PM 4880 BEAUMONT DR., LA MESA
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