JJAILWAY ACCIDENTS. 



the course of other regular trains, and, except in cases of 

 accidental stoppage or delay, they know where they are 

 liable to be encountered. Special trains are supplied on 

 sudden and unforeseen occasions, and although their drivers 

 are informed of the movement of the regular trains, and may 

 therefore provide against collisions, this information is not 

 reciprocal. 



Excursion trains are exceptional but not unforeseen, and are 

 not therefore as unsafe as special trains. They are, nevertheless, 

 to be avoided by those who scrupulously consult their safety. 

 An examination of the statistics of accidents would conclusively 

 prove the prudence of such a course. 



On the Maryport and Carlisle, on the 10th of November, 

 1846, a collision between a special train and a coal-train took 

 place in consequence of neglect on the part of the signal-man 

 at the Wigton station, and of the agent and superintendent of 

 locomotives at Carlisle, in not informing the driver of the 

 coal-train that a special train was expected, and that he was 

 not to start until it arrived. Engine-driver and sole passenger 

 injured. 



18. Rule VIII. IF THE TRAIN IN WHICH YOU TRAVEL MEET 



WITH AN ACCIDENT, BY WHICH IT IS STOPPED AT A PART 

 OF THE LINE, OR AT A TIME, WHERE SUCH STOPPAGE IS NOT 

 REGULAR, IT IS MORE ADVISABLE TO QUIT THE CARRIAGE 

 THAN TO STAY IN IT, BUT IN QUITTING IT REMEMBER 

 RULES I., IV., AND V. 



It may be affirmed generally that there is always more or less 

 danger on a railway when carriages or waggons are found at a 

 place, where in the regular working of the line, they ought not to 

 be. In such cases a train following them, not expecting to find 

 them there, is likely to run upon them and produce a collision. 

 We have personally witnessed more than one example of this, and 

 the reports of the railway commissioners supply several. "We 

 should therefore recommend the above rule for general observ- 

 ance ; but in leaving the train passengers should beware of 

 crossing the line, or standing on it, or of getting out of the 

 carriages at the wrong side. 



On the South- Western, on the 14th of January, 1848, the 

 engine of a passenger train having been partially disabled, the 

 engine-driver got under it to repair the damage. While thus 

 employed, a goods train overtook and ran into the passenger 

 train, causing the instant death of the driver, and injury to the 

 fireman and eleven passengers ; also injury to one of the guards 

 of the goods train. 

 188 



