Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Report on a Visit to America: September 19th to October 31st, 1902
In England the problem is further complicated by the existence of numerous industrial sidings on the main lines, the points and signals of which must necessarily be interlocked with the automatic signals, and require human agency to operate them.
There is something attractive about the term automatic signalling, and the conclusion is sometimes hastily arrived at, that its adoption will immediately effect increased safety, greater economy and simplicity of operation, a reduction of expenses, and larger dividends. But the cost of installing a system of automatic signalling is' great, involving as it does the erection of a power plant, electric or pneumatic, to supply the power for operating the signals, the laying of pipes, conduits, or cables for the entire length of the line for conveying the power to the signals, the provision of numerous wires, batteries, and relays for controlling the power, and the erection of a great number of signals, and the bridges or posts-supporting them. Moreover, if the system is to take the place of an existing installation of manual signals, it is to be remembered that the whole of the latter has to be scrapped. A considerable advantage, such as a large saving of wages, and a largely increased capacity of the railway must therefore be assured, in order to justify the outlay.
Automatic signalling does not of itself introduce greater safety of operation. It is merely a labour-saving device. No doubt it eliminates the risks due to mistakes of signalmen, but it introduces other risks peculiar to itself, due either to inefficient maintenance, to failure of the mechanism, to weather, and to accidents of various sorts. Moreover, the chief object of a system of automatic signalling must be to enable more trains to pass over a given section of the line in a given time, and more trains under such conditions necessarily involve increased chances of accident.
From what has been said it will be seen that the whole question of automatic signalling requires to be further considered before its applicability to main lines in England can be thoroughly ascertained, and the results of the trials of the system upon the London and South Western and North Eastern Railways, will be of the greatest value in the investigation of the subject.
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