March 1953 page 19

[Continued]

into the tunnel under the bridge, or past the wall or other obstruction. As the car moves slowly past, the obstruction pushes the feelers back so that their changed position gives an exact profile of the obstruction. This profile is transfered to paper by the use of pantographs. A man outside the car moves the arm of a large pantograph to meet the tip of each feeler. As the arm is extended or retracted to meet each successive feeler, the movement is transmitted first to an arm moving on a large dial outside the car, and then, in reduced scale, to one moving inside on. a smaller dial. The clearance are recorded on measured charts as the car moves along.

[Title]
Interpreting the data

In the office of the maintenance of way department or the clearance engineer's office the charts are studied and translated into understandable terms, and the record shows what will and what will not clear the obstruction. Sometimes structural changes or alterations in roadbed are made as a result of the findings.

On Northern railroads clearance cars are not usually operated during the winter months because snow and ice formations would make it impossible to obtain accurate measurements. The busy season for clearance car operations is from April through October.

Changed conditions because of new construction or alterations or because of some prank of nature might result in a change in rail elevation in a tunnel or bridge. Or a severe winter might alter the earth's contour slightly. The difference may not amount to even an inch, but it might be the space which would determine whether a shipment could or could not move over the road. That's why the clearance car, providing rapid and accurate measurements, is an important part of the railroads work equipment.

[Column 2]

[Title]
Man Wanted!

WANTED---A man for hard work and rapid promotion; a man who can find things to be done without the help of a manager and three assistants.

A man who gets to work on time in the morning and does not imperil th elvies of others in an attempt to be first out of the office at night.

A man who listens carefully when he is spoken to and asks only eenough questions to insure the accurate carrying out of instructions.

A man who moves quickly and makes as little nosise as possible.

A man who looks you straight in the eye and tells the truth every time.

A man who does not pity himself for having to work.

A man who is neat in appearance.

A man who does not sulk for an hour's overtime in emergencies.

A man who is cheerful, courteous to everyone, and determined to succeeed.

This man is wanted everywhere. Age or lack of experience does not count. There isn't any limit, except his own ambition, to the number or size of the jobs he can get. He is wanted in every business.

[Italic Typing]
Reprinted from material of the First Securities Corporation, Durham, N. C.

[Title]
Correction

Last month's issue carried a brief item about the longest stretch of straight railroad in the United States. The item erroneously reported that the longest straight stretch was on the Seaboard "between Wilson and Hamlet." It should have read "between Wilmington and Hamlet." At last report one SEMAPHORE reader had already lost a $10 bet for depending on the authenticity of the information. The editor apologized and arranged a three-year free subscription to the magazine for this trusting reader.

[The bottom left concer, page number] 20

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