The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-09 00:00:00

Railways and the Electric Telegraph.

{From the Railway News.)
The accident which a short time since occurred in the
Blackheath Tunnel of the North Kent line has very natu-

rally directed an increased amount of attention to the em-
ployment of electricity for the purpose of train signalling.
Notwithstanding this very painful occurrence, there is
nothing in the circumstances which caused it that should
shake public confidence in the efficiency of the electric tele-
graph for the working of railways. There is no agent that
can be made use of which is more speedy in its action and

more certain in its results than electricity, and these are

two essential qualities required in the transmission of sig-
nals. If we could always ensure fine and clear weather—
if the railways always ran in straight lines—if there were
neither embankments, nor cuttings, nor curves, nor tun-
nels, the old semaphore telegraph, which in days gone by
waved its arms wildly to and fro, from one beacon hill to
another, would be quite sufficient for railway signalling.
In like manner, if mechanical arrangements could be made

by which the signals of one station could be worked from
the next one, or the distance between auxiliary and sta-
tion signals could be increased:without risk of failure, then
managers of railways might trust to contrivances of this
nature for the safe working of railways. Unfortunately,
neither of these systems can be implicitly relied on, and
something more is needed for the safe running of the
numerous trains of different speeds and loads which aro
continually travelling to and fro upon our railroads. Elec-
tricity has now been tested for a long period upon our
leading railways, and the unfortunate accident to which we
have referred cannot be laid at the door of this faithful ser-

vant. The telegraph wire carried its message from station
to station with its usual unerring accuracy, and the fault
lay with the human agent who sent, and not the subtle
fluid that bore, the fatal message "all clear." If any per-
son will glance through the reports of the railway inspec-
tors of the Board of Trade upon the accidents which have
taken place during the last year, they will see how, in
the majority -of cases, accidents are traceable in
the opinion of the reporting officers to the want of telegra-
phic communication. The reports of Col. Yolland, Capt.
Tyler, and Capt. Rich, all tell the same story. The acci-
dents which occur are due in a far less proportion to me-
chanical defects in the rolling stock or permanent way than
to imperfect signalling. Of the 15 accidents which were
recently reported upon in the three months en ding June—
these being summer months—not less than eight were dis-
tinctly traceable to defective signalling, and in almost
every case the use of the electric telegraph was recom-
mended by the Government inspector. Cel. Yolland, on
his report on the Egham accident, said—" The introduction
of the electric telegraph produces ready means of keeping
an interval of space between following trains. No train
should be permitted to leave a station until the station in
advance has telegraphed back that the line up to that sta-
tion was clear for a train to travel up to it. The electric
telegraph supplies an addition to the ordinary means of
out-of-door signals for securing public safety. And the
difference between the two systems of working by keeping
a space between following trains, or by allowing them to
travel at an interval of time from each other, is that, when
both are rigidly and faithfully carried out, a collision be-
tween following trains is impossible when an interval of
space is maintained between them, but a collision may and
often does happen when the traffic is worked by an interval
of time only." Col. Yolland goes on to add these observa-
tions, which we have reason to believe have not been with-
out effect
theiret upon
companiessomele adlngmembers of the Government—
“ frailway cannot be induced voluntarily to
alter
system and to introduce those improvements
which science has placed within their reach, then the Le-
gislature should interfere and compel them to do so."
Hence, among other sources, has arisen the report referred
to last week, of the intention to appoint a select committee
to inquire into the whole subject of the working and ma-
nagement of the railways of the United Kingdom. The
accident at Blackheath has occurred as if to show that no
amount of precaution which can be taken will prevent the
occurrence of casualties upon railways. The North Kent,
as indeed the whole of the South-Eastern system, is
worked upon the plan thus strongly recommended by
Colonel Yolland, and the adoption of which he would
make compulsory by Government upon all railway com-
panies. It is certain that electricity must in future be much
more extensively engaged than hitherto upon the railways,
and, if does not provide a perfect guarantee against
accidents on railways, it is at all events the most efficient
agent which can be employed in their prevention. This
child, so mysterious in its origin, in its nature, and in its
action, and as yet but an infant in years, now offers its pro-
tection to those to whom it lies under so many and such
deep obligations. Electricity asks only of men of science
that they will provide the means by which it can make
itself more extensively useful in connection with the rail-
road system. Much has been done in this respect ; much
yet remains to be accomplished; and we shall hear with
satisfaction of any improvements made in the application of
electric telegraphy to the conduct of the immense and
growing ram traffic ei the country.