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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 7 (November 1, 1929)

Train Control Systems in Germany

Train Control Systems in Germany.

Railway working in Holland has, to a considerable degree been influenced by Germany, but there are many clever devices employed in German railway operation that are as yet untried in the Netherlands. In automatic train control, Germany has, for example, made far greater progress than any other European land. Three methods of train control are favoured by the Berlin authorities. Mechanical control of the Van Braam type is employed, with track elements placed between the rails, giving a repetition of signal movements in the cab of the locomotive and automatically applying the engine brakes. Recently an improvement of this page 20 type of control has been introduced in the Berlin and Hamburg electrified areas. Here the track element is situated at the side of the track, some two feet above rail level. As yet the new apparatus serves only as an absolute stop device at the home signal, but, by degrees, the usefulness of the device will be increased so that it effects a partial application of the locomotive brakes when desired, and also, to make it effective for steam working on the main lines.

Another system of train control utilised in Germany is the “Indulor” magnetic arrangement. Two magnets are employed, one being placed on the Berlin authorities give every encouragement to the staff to bring forward ideas and suggestions calculated to improve train signalling and operation generally.
Modern Railway Signalling. The extension of the Munich Passenger Station in Germany.

Modern Railway Signalling.
The extension of the Munich Passenger Station in Germany.

Here at Home, probably the Underground Railways of London come closest to the German railways in this respect, and many innovations in train working in use on the London Underground system have emanated from the rank and file.