This is where the Kinzua/Ludlow Depot used to be when Robinson demonstrated his track circuit, and where the historical marker would be placed.

A Pittsburgh engineer is hoping to honor inventor Dr. William Robinson, by installing a historical marker along the railway tracks in Ludlow.

The plaque would be placed along track where the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Kinzua depot, (later the Ludlow) depot once stood, near the corner of Curtis and Overbrook Rds.  The location is believed to be where Robinson first demonstrated a railroad signal system, utilizing electrical track circuit for train detection, to officials of the Philadelphia & Erie Company in 1870-71. The significance of his accomplishment is that after 137 years track circuits are still widely used for train detection purposes in signal systems throughout the United States and abroad.

The historical marker would not likely bring droves of tourists, or even train fanciers to Ludlow, but it definitely would make a significant, but little known train history available to those who are interested, said Bennett R. Feely, the man spearheading the effort. Feely has worked in the railway signaling business for 29 years and is one of the “Has-Beens,” an informal group of friends who are former employees of the Union Switch & Signal Company in Pittsburgh.

The historical marker was given preliminary approval in March 2008 by the Pennsylvania State Historical and Museum Commission. The cost of installing a roadside marker is roughly $1800. This project is being privately funded and once installed, roadside markers are maintained by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Feely informed Hamilton Township of his plan, and none of the supervisors had any objection at the October meeting. Feely noted he would be willing to locate the marker elsewhere if local residents object. If all proceeds smoothly, the marker could be installed next spring, Feely said. First, Feely must also obtain permission of the owner of the land beneath, and surrounding Curtis Rd, the B & P railroad. The railroad requires an agreement with the PHMC that permits the railroad to remove or relocate the sign at any time in the future should work on the railroad be needed.

Robinson, (1840-1921) first became interested in solving the dilemma of how to prevent collisions on rail lines following a series of wrecks in the 1860-70 era. The demonstration of Robinson’s simple invention was a big hit at the American Institute Fair in New York City in 1870. William A. Baldwin, the general superintendent of the Philadelphia and Erie railroad was so impressed that he arranged for Robinson to install the system on his line at the Kinzua, (Ludlow) Pa. depot.

The first experiments proved conclusively that the system would work But Robinson found the mile and a half of track to be in a “fearfully unsuitable condition” for his purpose. The light rails had been bolted together by a four-foot wooden bar on the outside, and a 12 inch metal plate on the inside, resulting in an unreliable electrical connection between each adjoining rail. With a little work, Robinson managed to get electrical current running through the entire mile-and-quarter length of track. But he realized that an electrical bond wire of some kind between rail ends would be needed for reliable, continuous service, using his system. A variety of improvements of this sort were subsequently introduced, but Robinson’s basic concept of an electrical circuit formed by the wheels, axles and rails has not been significantly altered or rendered obsolete since its introduction in the early 1870’s.

Like many other lesser-known known inventors of his era, Robinson, failed to gain recognition and money for his ideas. After a period of inactivity during the 1870’s, Robinson’s signal patents were bought by George Westinghouse in 1879.  By 1895-1900, automatic block signal systems employing track circuits had been perfected to a point where they could be safely relied upon as the sole means of controlling train movements.

Robinson’s track circuit was the key technology which enabled the development of automatic signal systems.  Throughout the early 1900’s railroads rapidly installed these new signal systems as a means of expediting traffic, eliminating human error and reducing labor costs.  Although the track circuit has become far more complex and versatile, its basic form and function remains unchanged from that first presented by Robinson.

Robinson was granted 69 United States patents during his lifetime. He later invented the Repeating Telephone and Robinson Radial Railway Truck, and held patents on the backward pedaling bicycle coaster brake device, still in common use today.