590 Original Articles. [Oct. 



stock has hitherto been constructed independently on the different 

 railways, without any provision for a suitable system ; and the evil 

 will, if it is unchecked, inevitably grow worse as years roll on. It 

 is therefore desirable, that further delay should be avoided, and that 

 measures should now be adopted for securing, within a reasonable 

 time, the adoption of some general and appropriate remedy. 



It cannot be expected that the directors or officers of railway 

 companies, who are all under pressure, more or less, from their share- 

 holders, should initiate such a remedy ; nor can it be supposed that 

 so many companies would all agree with one another as to what would 

 be most expedient ; but it is not probable, after all that has passed, 

 and looking to the exigencies of the future, that the railway interest 

 would combine seriously to oppose any well-considered scheme which 

 might be proposed to Parliament. And indeed, the sub-committee 

 of this year goes so far as to express an opinion " that it is desirable 

 if practicable, to give passengers by express or other trains, running 

 for a considerable distance without stopping, the means, in cases of 

 emergency, of attracting the attention of the guard, and of enabling 

 him to stop the train at the next station, or under the protection of 

 the next fixed signals, and they recommend that no effort should be 

 spared on the part of the railway companies to attain this object, it 

 being borne in mind that, in order to give the public the full advan- 

 tage of the communication upon the long through trains, many of 

 which traverse several lines of railways, it is absolutely necessary that 

 all the companies should adopt the same plan." We have, however, 

 already explained why it is desirable that the engine-driver shoidd 

 have the advantage, as well as the guard, of hearing any signal that a 

 passenger might make, not by any means as a direction to him to stop 

 the train, but in order that he may be in a position to act for the best, 

 according to circumstances, without loss of time, in a case of real 

 emergency. 



As a summary of what has been said, it would appear, upon the 

 whole, to be desirable : — 1. That no passenger vehicles should be 

 constructed henceforward for railways except such as will afford the 

 means of internal circulation through the trains. 2. That all existing 

 passenger vehicles should also within some fixed number of years be 

 made to afford internal circulation through the trains. 3. That all 

 vehicles used in passenger trains should within some stated time be 

 fitted with the means of voltaic communication, so that a passenger 

 shall, in a case of emergency, have the power, from any compartment, 

 of attracting the attention of the engine-driver and the guard or 

 guards. 4. That any passenger wilfully and wrongfully making use 

 of such communication shall be liable to a penalty on conviction. 



It would serve no good purpose to enter further here into the 

 details of such arrangements ; but it may be added in conclusion, that 

 the combined means of communication and circulation which are 

 contemplated, would be principally deterrent as regards offences, from 

 the comparative certainty of detection which they would afford ; 

 occasionally useful in preventing or alleviating the disastrous effects 

 of accidents ; and undoubtedly advantageous, both to the country and 



