A System of Automatic Train Control : A Thesis Presented by Charles Woodward Morgan to the President and Faculty of Armour Institute of Technology for the Degree of Mechanical Engineer Having Fulfilled the Required Conditions Preparatory

Comprehensive look at early automatic train control design and safety
This book presents a detailed account of an early system for safeguarding train movements, built to replace traditional block signaling. It explains how the power, track, and engine machines work together, including how signals are cleared, how relays and magnets control operations, and how the system guards against faults with self-checking features. The text also covers alternating and direct current implementations, track circuits, signal circuits, and the mechanisms that ensure trains stop when something goes wrong.

What you’ll gain from this edition
- A clear description of the Rowell–Potter safety concepts and the two-track versus single-track configurations
- Insight into how relays, locks, and levers coordinate to depress track instruments and control signals
- An overview of safety tests, fault remedies, and practical installation considerations
- Context from contemporary reports praising safety, reliability, and the system’s potential benefits on railroads

Ideal for readers of engineering history and railway technology, and anyone curious about early automatic train control ideas.