The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-14 00:00:00

THE FATAL COLLISION ON THE CHESHIRE

JUNCTION RAILWAY.

Previous to the delivery of the verdict in this pro-
tracted case, which we guys in yesterday's Exprese, Mr.
Monk expressed a wish to have Mr. Bragg,, engineer to the
company, retailed :
Mr. Brugge, having again been sworn, stated that since
Capt. Wien had expressed his disaaiisfaction with the trial
trip of Kstunlay, on account of the load being lighter than
bad been agreed upon by 22 tons, he had made farther trial
trips with the Druid engine, adopting tie hart tig basis of
Calculation 111 to the nunaher and weight of panoneesn:
Two tirst-cligs carriages, 18 each 26
Four secoud do., 24 „
Two large do., 32 „
Ten stand-ups

Total pana.ngers leaving Choler la ads 986
Lees throe g•ttiug oat at fads= lOO

Averaging these 886 passengers at 11 stone each (instead
of 12 stone each, as formerly), this gave a total weight in
the train of 61 tons. The weight of carriages, engine, and
tender would be 83 tons 10 cwts., making the total weight
of the train required 157 tons 6 cwt. The first trial was
with a train of 138 tons (the carriages being 83 tons 6 cwt.,
aid the dead weight 3d tons), and the result we, as follows :
—The train started from Frodsham at sb. 28 in. 30 sec.
Let., reached the viaduct at 5.Z2, the canal bridge at 5.35,
entrance to the tunnel at sh. 36m. 45wc., end far end of
tunnel at 5.40. Total time occupied 11 min. 30see. Slipped
a little in the tunnel. For the second trial he put on two
loaded cad waggons, weighing 16 tons 16 cwt. The
dis-
tance was performed with this load in 17 min. 30 sees., the
train slipping badly at starting and in the tunnel. In
a third trial with this additional load the train
started at 10.6.30, reached viaduct at 10.12.30, canal 10.14,
entrance to the tunnel at 10.16.15, and emerged at 10.19.45,
making a total of 131 minutes, or at the rate of 20 miles
per hour. The train slipped badly at the summit in the
tunnel. It was understood that Captain Loftin flied the
weight to be tried, but did not attempt personally to 'acer-
bic whether this weight was really put on. It will have
been seen, however, by his examination of Mr. Bragge, on
Monday, that the 10 borrowed stand up waggons were too
weak in the springs, and resting on the tope of the wheels
Would act as so many separate breaks. If this was the
het, it is not surprising the Druid could not take her load
sea the 30th of April, and only the proper watching of the
tunnel and signalling of trains in it could have prevented
the accident, after she had once been allowed to enter.
The jury then delivered their verdict of " Accidental
death,' it with the following observations:
Althea& have not felt justified la
any ethic wadi* that of sedimed duds. recording
image, star that they are easaimsedy *Mon that
limes allestee to the eileelable eellllliblee of the Mr-
Leneublers, and amain Jamedge Railway Cosa-
Imey, aid that thin was a meet et prldgese aid discretion
immerally la this sundaes et the Massa and sensate of the
mapen7 algae the Iles hem Chubs M tilsestemer, oa the
day when the gesiseholy essenwess teshwiesk which m-
asked in the death of the parties (a Weieseday, Seth
jAiril) as to width the jury have been *Wimp With
M the lesemotive power of the amamay, it apposes
OZ.ileargess whatever was made teethe ephemeral
traffic ekes de line hem Cheater es daring*,
Chester rase weak, eel that there was as eselherimi ewer.
istgediat Odle asstess/md deportment sisei that lea v-
peat* sad as pregendams, agsgegmeents edged for
the mighty at ths sides ht riginet• to the Been Ismael,
where the samba task pins se the day above-mmilseed.
ohs jay led that the day there was the plat-