The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-03 00:00:00

RAILWAY GUNPOWDER - DAN

GER SIGNAL.

From a Parliamentary volume, forming Appendix No.
3 of .the Report of the Officers of the Rail,, ay Depart-
ment to the Lords of the Committee of P. ivy Council
for Trade, and just printed for Parliament, the following
quotation is made, being a letter from Major-General
Pasley to the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council
for Trade, recommending that a circular hould be sent
to railway companies, suggesting the adoption of a new
danger signal by means of gunpowder:—
"My Lords,—Two fatal accidents, which it was my
duty to inquire into, having occurred within the space
of thirteen months, in both of which one railway
train, detained beyond its proper time, was run
into by another train, causing the death of a
passenger in one case, and of an engine-man in the
other, notwithstanding that the usual precaution had
been taken of sending a man back from the train that
was delayed with a red lantern as a signal of danger, to
meet and stop the approaching train, not only by this
signal, but also by calling out to the engine-man. In
both cases this caution proved ineffectual, as the men
sent back were neither heard, nor were their red lanterns
seen, by the :engine-men of the approaching trains. In
fact, I have myself observed, more than once, that it is
impossible for the engine-man or fireman of a railway
train in motion to hear a person calling to him, even from
a very short distance, especially when the train is passing
under a tunnel, which causes a louder rattling noise than
in the open air.
" I therefore beg leave to bring under your Lordships'
notice a very ingenious arrangement adopted on the
London and Birmingham Railway, as a fog or danger
signal at the suggestion of Mr. Cowper, son of the
King's College professor of that name. This con-
sists in sending a man back to place a small flat circu-
lar tin box, containing a charge of gunpowder, mixed
with a little fulminating powder, on the line of rails by
which the next train is advancing, which box has two
leaden fangs attached to it for clasping the rail, which at
other times are doubled fiat down upon the box to save
room. As soon as the wheel of the locomotive engine
of the approaching train passes over this box, it fires the
charge, with an explosion sufficiently loud to be heard in
the moss stormy night, or in going through a tunnel, but
not powerful enough to injure the rails or the wheels of the
engine. Under the circumstances supposed, this arrange-
ment, as a signal of danger or caution, is preferable to a red
light by night, or in &tunnel, because no neglect or inatten-
tion on the part of the engineman or fireman of the coming
train can render it possible for them to pass without
being aware of the explosion, which cannot fail to take
plaw, and on hearing which it would be their duty to
stop. The best way of proceeding would be for the man
sent back to carry a red light also, and after placing his
explosion signal-box on the rail to return part of the
way from whence he came, and remain there with his
red light to meet the train on stopping, and to explain
to the engineman whatever may be necessary.
"I shall conclude by observing that I am fully per-
suaded that the more perfect system of danger-signal
just described, if generally adopted on railways, may be
the means of saving lives hereafter ; and therefore, I
request, should your Lordships concur in this opinion,
that you will be pleased to call the attention of the Di-
rectors of railway companies to the subject by a circular
letter.—l have, &c.
" C. W. PASLEY, Major-General."

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.

OPENING of the RAILWAY from RAMSGATE to
MARGATE.

On Tuesday the South-Eastern Company's branch line
from Ramsgate to Margate was opened for passenger
traffic. A special train, conveying Mr. M'Gregor, Chair-
mats of the South-Eastern Company, Viscount Torring-
ton, Mr. Pritchard, and other directors, left the Brick-
layers' Arms station at a quarter before eleven A.M., for
Margate. The station at Ramsgate was hung with flags
in honour of the occasion, and several additional car-
riages with passengers having been attached to the train,
it prcceeded onwards to Margate. The length of the
line thus opened to the public is about 34 miles, con.
sisting of only a single line of rail. At Margate the
event was celebrated as a general holiday, almost every
shop in the town being closed. The directors, on their
arrival, were received by Mr. Deputy Cobb and some of
the principal inhabitants, who acted as stewards of tha
day. A procession of carriages, containing the direc-
tors, &c. was formed at the railway station, which,
headed by a band of music and flags, moved on the York
Hotel, The streets and windows and balconies of the
houses on the line of route were filled with ladies, who
welcomed the procession by waving their handkerchiefs,
and other tokens of satisfaction. A triumphal arch,
formed of evergreens, was also erected, and this at night
was tastefully illuminated.
At five o'clock the directors and their friends were
entertained by the inhabitants at the Assembly Rooms,
where about 200 persons sat down to a sumptuous din-
ner, Mr. Deputy Cobb filled the chair, and was sup-
ported by Mr. M'Gregor, Lord Torrington, Mr. Bodkin,
M.P., the Right llon. S. R. Lushington, Rev. W. E.
Hoskins, &c. Mr. M'Gregor, in returning thanks for
the toast of the South-Eastern direction, said the Com-
pany had spent a quarter of a million of money in Par-
liamentary contests, in which they were endeavouring
to obtain direct lines for Margate and other places.
Parliament had already intrusted them with the con-
struction of a line from London to Rochester, a portion
of which would be in the contractor's hands on the 12th
instant. The directors were now seeking for powers to
continue the line from Rochester to Chilham, which
would not only shorten the distance between London
and 'Margate by twenty miles, but would also bring the
inhabitants cf the latter town in communication with a
population of 200,000 souls at the other end of the
county. The company's branch line from Minster to
Deal would be opened in February next; in about twelve
months they would have a line to Rye; and in about
eighteen months they would have a continuous communi-
cation from Margate to llastings.
After the proceedings of the dinner were concluded, a
special train left Margate at a quarter to ten o'clock,
which arrived in London at ten minutes past one o'clock
yesterday morning.
The day was exceedingly favourable, and the arrange-
ments made by the stewards at Margate for the recep-
tion of their guests, both in the procession and at the
dinner, were of the most complete and spirited character.