Excerpt from Railway Signaling in Theory and Practice
In the ensuing pages, it has not been my intention to treat the subject of railway signaling as practiced in America in anything but an elementary way. Even the elements are not always readily grasped by persons who have not had some practical railway experience, and are at least somewhat familiar with the ordinary methods pursued in constructing tracks, moving trains and in the nomenclature used by those whose daily life is spent in actual railway operation.
My object has been to supply a want which I myself felt sorely at the beginning of my career as a Signal Engineer - that of an elementary text book bearing on the subject.
The matter was originally compiled with a view to publishing it serially, and indeed nearly one-half of it has already appeared in that way. Although I have taken as much time as it was possible for me to spare from a busy life to arrange and revise the matter in proper form for its present appearance, I cannot but feel that I may have left a great deal yet to be done. I can only say that I have tried to do my best and that I hope the book will be well enough received to give me a chance to make any revisions which may appear advisable in a later edition.
I have taken the liberty fully to express my own opinions where I have thought necessary, and have always endeavored to impress on the reader's mind that they were such so that he could take them for what they are worth.
After more than eighteen years spent in the operat ing department of a large railroad, and nearly seven years as its Signal Engineer, I cannot but feel that these opinions must be worth something now if they ever will be. The reader must judge for himself.
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