The Sun.
London, England, 1840-11-20 00:00:00

ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUIV.
SIR-The railway murders (for it has become ab-
surd to term events "accidents," which the slightest care
might prevent) become so alarming that the whole
Press should instantly exert its full force to correct so
monstrous an evil.

These dreadful sacrifices are now of daily occurrence;
not a copy of The Sun do I peruse which does not re-
cord one ; and it becomes necessary for a man to make
his will before he ventures to enter a railway carriage.

The very nature of a railway makes injury nearly im-
possible, if the most ordinary care be taken in the ma-
nagement.
All that is necessary is to inclose the railway (so that
nothing but the carriages could move on it), to forbid
any train setting off till a certain (somewhat consider-
able) time has elapsed from the departure of the pre-
ceding train. To appoint officers to see that this regu-
lation is strictly obeyed ; and, above all, to punish the
acting servants of the Company for every deviation most
severely, and the Directors yet more sharply. If the
latter had each to pay 100/. fur every " accident," none
would happen after a short time, and care would be
taken to have proper engineers, &c.
All this should be done by legislation the moment
Parliament assembles. Meanwhile, let juries lay on
tremendous deodands. Your's,

R. W.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Site—The numerous railway accidents having called
forth much discussion, I take the liberty of offering,
for the consideration of the public, the following plans
or the securing of greater safety :
I submit the propriety of there being established at
the expense of Government an Initiation Railway,where
candidates for the responsible office of drivers might
learn at their own expense their profession ; the instruc-
tion of course to be conducted by a well tested Engi-
neer. And that there be a Board of Engineers ap-
pointed, who are to act as Examiners : at least two of
whom, in conjunction with the instructor, should sign a
certificate of capability of any person desirous of obtain-
ing a situation as driver, before he should be considered
eligible.
I propose also, that in all cases of accident, the
Coroner of the district should be empowered to hold in-
quest of the damage done, whether loss of life ensues
or not ; that he should be authorised to levy upon the
Railway Proprietors when any accident occurred a fine
according to his judgment, having a maximum and mi-
nimum amount fixed by Act of Parliament ; the said
fine to be apportioned amongst the sufferers or their sur-
vivors in such proportion as he might deem right, allow-
ing an appeal to the Quarter Sessions, either by the
proprietors or the sufferers, as to the propriety of the
judgment of the Coroner.
And further, it is desirable that Proprietors of Rail-
ways should establish a Society for giving rewards to
drivers of good conduct, as is now extensively done by
agriculturists to their servants.
A line of initiation might be laid down at a very small
expense, it not being necessary to have it of great
length ; but I think it would be necessary to embrace
the various circumstances that appertain to railways,
such as level, inclination, declination, curve, &c.
causing the engine to be driven under a variety of speed
and burden.
In these observations, I respectfully submit, is con-
tained much of what can be done by legislative, physi-
cal, and moral means, to secure the safety of her Ma-
jesty's subjects travelling by railway.
1 aro, Sir, your obedient servant.
ROBERT CALON.
Catton, Norwich, Nov. 19, 1840.