TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 223 
On Recent Improvements in Railway Signals. By C. F. Wurrwortu. 
The recent improvements in railway signals, known as Whitworth and Gibson’s 
combined patent, consist of the following provisions :— 
Ist. The improved releaser for auxiliary or distant signals, which operates to 
protect stations, junctions, opening bridges, and other parts where men are posted 
in constant charge. 
2nd. Continuous signals, adapted for the protection of intermediate places 
between distant stations, and especially where there are tunnels or curved cuttings 
or inclines. 
3rd. Announcing bells, which may be only mechanical or operated upon 
magnetically, acting either in advance or in rear of the train, so as to indicate, 
as may be required, the position of trains in progress. 
4th. The air vessel or cushion, to regulate the motion of the signal under an 
excess of weight advisable to ensure the due action of the danger signal. 
5th. The compensation, which acts as a perpetual adjusting screw on the 
wires ; so that, whatever the temperature, the tension will always be equal. 
6th. The engine fog signal, which is so arranged as to operate under the plat- 
form of the engine whenever a signal, at danger, is unobserved, either through 
carelessness or impenetrable mists. 
The peculiarities of these inventions are, that the motion of the signal is totally 
irrespective of the velocity or impetus of the train effecting it; also that the first 
wheel which passes the signal-post acts on the lever completely, and so depresses 
the lever in contact as to prevent its rising against any subsequent wheel in the 
train. 
The author then described by the aid of diagrams and models these various im- 
provements, and also illustrated in addition a method of signaling by telegraph, 
which could be attached to the previously-described machinery, when required, 
when the same depression of the lever before referred to in connexion with the 
first signal-post brings into contact a small lever and stud, thereby completing the 
electric current, and acting upon an electro-magnetic bell placed in any suitable 
situation in advance or in rear of the moving train,—the bell ringing continuously 
until the second signal apparatus be reached, when the second lever breaks the 
current simultaneously with releasing the first signal and setting the second to 
danger. 
On an Instrument for setting out Curve Lines. By R. P. Wittsams. 
APPENDIX. 
GEOLOGY. 
On some remarkable Yorkshire Fossils, including the unique Plesiosauri in 
the Museum at York, with pictorial restorations by Mr. Waterhouse 
Hawkins. By Enwarp Cuartesworth, F.G.S. 
On an Ichthyolite found in the Devonian Slates of East Cornwall. 
By W. Pencetty, F.G.S. 
