Pyle stop

Pyle stop is a term used in rail transport to refer to a type of railway signal that is used to control train movements. It is named after its inventor, Edward Pyle, an American engineer who developed the system in the early 20th century.

History

Edward Pyle first introduced the Pyle stop in 1910 as a solution to the increasing complexity of train movements. Prior to the invention of the Pyle stop, railway signals were primarily mechanical, requiring manual operation by railway staff. The Pyle stop was one of the first attempts to automate this process, using electrical circuits to control the signals.

Design and Operation

The Pyle stop consists of a signal post with one or more signal arms, each of which can be moved to different positions to indicate different instructions to train drivers. The signal arms are controlled by an electrical circuit, which is activated by the approach of a train.

When a train approaches a Pyle stop, the electrical circuit detects the train and moves the signal arm to the 'stop' position. This instructs the train driver to stop the train. Once the train has stopped, the circuit moves the signal arm to the 'proceed' position, allowing the train to continue.

Impact

The introduction of the Pyle stop had a significant impact on the operation of railways. It allowed for more efficient control of train movements, reducing the need for manual operation of signals and improving safety. The Pyle stop also paved the way for further developments in railway signalling, including the introduction of more advanced automated systems.

See Also

• Railway signalling
• Edward Pyle
• Rail transport