Railroad yard lighting

In a report on railroad yard lighting recently presented at the annual convention of the Illuminating Engineering Society it was stated that prior to the development of a satisfactory system of electric lighting, night operations in railroad yards were carried on by the aid of hand lanterns. The hazards to the workmen and the equipment were very great. Men were injured, cars and contents damaged, material was stolen and all work materially slowed up. Studies made for devising means of expediting cars through the yards have led to the lighting of the entire trackage by systems of general illumination. The results were reported as very gratifying and showed an economy and efficiency in operating conditions, richly rewarding the railroads for the small expenditure necessary.