Section 166. Signalmen

1. When used in this section "signalman" means:
    a.  A  telegraph  or  telephone  operator  reporting trains to another
  office or to a train dispatcher;
    b. A telegraph or  telephone  leverman  who  manipulates  interlocking
  machines in railroad yards or on main tracks on the lines;
    c.  A  train  dispatcher whose duties pertain to the movement of cars,
  engines or trains, by telegraph or telephone in dispatching or reporting
  trains or receiving or transmitting train orders.
    2. When used in this  section  "railroad"  means:  any  portion  of  a
  surface,  subway  or elevated railroad situated wholly or partly in this
  state and operated by a corporation or  receiver  on  which  portion  at
  least  twenty  freight  trains  on the average or nine regular passenger
  trains pass each way in every twenty-four hours.
    3. No signalman shall be employed on any railroad for more than  eight
  hours  in  any  day except in cases of extraordinary emergency caused by
  accident, fire, flood or danger to life or property and he shall be paid
  for each hour  of  such  overtime  at  least  one-eighth  of  his  daily
  compensation.
    4.  Every  signalman  and  every towerman or gateman performing duties
  similar to those of a signalman, who is employed for eight hours or more
  every day shall be allowed at least two  days  of  rest  of  twenty-four
  hours each in every calendar month with the regular compensation, except
  in  cases of extraordinary emergency caused by accident, fire, flood, or
  danger to life or property, when in addition to his regular compensation
  he shall be paid for every hour so employed at least one-eighth  of  his
  daily compensation.
    5. The provisions of this section shall not apply to employees engaged
  in interstate commerce.