068 



PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION H. 



SCHEDULE— con<i««et?. 



5.— SOME NOTES ON SAFE KAILWAY WORKING. 



By T. W. FOWLER, M. Inst. C.E., M. Am. Soc. C.E., M.I. Mech. E., Jke. 



In connection with railways, many problerus of an engineering 

 character have to be dealt with ; others belong more to the com- 

 mercial branch, and others again to the transportation or traffic 

 branch. The determination oi" whether rail communication should 

 be estal)]ished between certain points may be considered a commer- 

 cial problem, if it has not to be decided upon political grounds. The 

 selection of tlie most suitable route, tlie construction, the equipment 

 with rolling stock, and with interlocking apparatus, signalling gear, 

 Sec, are engineering problems ; whilst the determination of the 

 Tiumber and character of the trains and the times at which they 

 should run are problems foi' the traffic branch, subject, of course, to 

 cc'usultation with the engineering branch as to desirable and per- 

 missible speeds and weights of trains. The engineer, and the engineer 

 alone, has the skill required to determine the loads which the engines 

 can haul, the speeds at whicli engines and rolling stock can l>6 safely 

 run (considering their design and condition, and also the design and 

 condition of the permanent way and bridges, &c.), and also the 

 distances within which they can be safely stopped under various 

 conditions on various gradients and various speeds. He again under- 

 stands the design and construction of the various safety appliances, 

 interlocking gear, block instruments. Sec, and the conditions of the 

 working for which they are intended. Hence, the writer submits that 



