The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-13 00:00:00

RAILWAY SAFETY.

An important incident in railway history, and one in
which the public safety is intimately interested, took
place on Wednesday last, when an experimental run was
made from Waterloo station to Windsor, for the purpose
of testing the efficiency of Major Robbins's invention
for applying self-acting breaks to railway carriages.
The train consisted of engine and tender, with a break
van and sixteen carriages, only eight of which, how-
ever, were furnished with this new contrivance. The
object of thus lengthening the train by these eight car-
riages unfurnished with the apparatus was to put to a
severe , test the facility of backing with the self-acting
break—a part of the experiment about which some slight
doubt had existed, but which proved, even under
disadvantageous circumstances, triumphantly success-
ful. There were present several engineers and men
of science connected with the leading railways of
the country to witness this important trial. The first
stoppage made was at the Wandsworth station,
which being near the junction, the speed attained
did not exceed 20 miles an hour; proceeding at which
rate the train was brought to a stand, without per-
ceptible abruptness, in an incredibly short distance.
Between this station and Putney a speed was reached
of 35 miles au hour, when 'a second experiment
stopped the train within a distance of 250 yards. It
is important to remark that an ordinary train proceed-
ing at this rate could not be stopped in less than 800
yards. The next experiment was tried at a speed of
40 miles an hour, in which the stoppage was effected
in 450 yards, and in about 50 seconds of time. On re-
turning from Windsor fog signals were placed upon
the line in situations unknown, till they /in nounced
themselves by their explosion, to any person on the
train. On passing over the first, the train was ad-
vancing at a speed of thirty-five miles per hour. The
steam was instantly shut off, which process alone im-
mediately brings this break into operation, and the
train was brought to a stand at 460 yards from
the point at which the signal exploded. Had al
the carriages been furnished with these breaks, and
the experiment thus disembarrassed of the additional
momentum caused by the eight unfurnished, there can
be no doubt that the stoppages would have been
effected in a much shorter time and distance. On the
return of the train to Waterloo it was evident that the
trial had proved highly satisfactory. The great diffi-
culty in connexion with self-acting breaks has always
been that of so arranging the apparatus as to
allow the engine-driver to back his train as occasion
might require. This difficulty, it would appear, has
been entirely overcome by the invention of Major Rob-
bins, the train having been repeatedly shunted in the
course of the experiments for the purpose of testing its
capabilities in this respect. While the train was stop-
ping at Windsor, Prince Albert, accompanied by a party
from the Castle, visited the station, for the purpose of
inspecting the contrivance. Major Robbins had the
honour of being presented to his Royal Highness, and
of explaining to him the principles and application of
his apparatus, which were evidently apprehended and
appreciated by the Prince with characteristic readiness.