CONTINUOUS RAILWAY BRAKES. 171 



The second condition for safoiy is, that the train should 

 be provided witli contrivances of an automatic character 

 for instantaneously applying the brakes in the case of 

 broken couplings or derailment of the train, any action of 

 the driver or guards being thus anticipated. 



A bralic which gives the driver complete control of a 

 train during ordinary running, and so long as it keeps the 

 rails, is a most valuable safeguard so far as the fulfilment 

 of the first condition for safety is concerned ; but the brake 

 must be unfailing in its action, so as to justify the driver's 

 confidence in its use. 



Many brakes, including some sectional brakes, comply 

 with this oondi tiou ; but though admirable in many respects, 

 they do not provide for every emergency which may arise 

 such as derailment of the train, or the case of a train 

 becoming parted when ascending a steep bank. To be useful 

 under all circumstances which may arise, a brake must 

 possess certain qualities wliich will enable it to comply with 

 the second condition for safety ; that is to say, in addition 

 to being reliable while the train keeps the rails and is 

 under the control of the train officials, it should also 

 anticipate any action of the driver or guard in the event 

 ol derailment of the train or of its becoming parted; in 

 short, the brake should be " automatic in its action " in 

 case of accident. 



The writer has dwelt at some length upon the conditions 

 for safety, because it enables one more fully to realize the 

 diificultios which had to be mastered in designing a brake 

 that should conform with the Board of Trade requirements 

 as regards continuous brakes. These requirements, to be 

 quoted directly, are extensive ; the standard they have set 

 for continuous brakes is very high, but has nevertheless 

 been attained. The standard, by being high, has contributed 



