The Helena independent., 1894-06-22
SAFETY ON FLYING TRAINS.
Reasons Why the Fastest Travelling Ones
Arr the MOst Secure

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The National Carand Locomotive Builder
says about the first thought that suggests
itself to person about TO take railroad
journey is, in these days Of frequent Rcci-
dents, Where il the safest place on the
trainS Extremes are generally objectiona-
BILE, and so, as a place of safety, are either
the extreme rear or forward parts OF pas
fenger train. In case of a head collision
the engine and forward cars have 20 furnish
che means for absorbing the moving energy
VI the train, and this energy is usually so
great that one or more cars are wrecked be-
fore its force is spent. In the case OF a rear
collision the rear cars must furnish the
means Of absorbing large portion Of the
moving energy OF the striking train.
Perhaps fully half OF this force Is spent
10 wreokirg the striking train. and con.
siderable portion OF the force Of the blow Is
spent in knocking the standing train for
ward. The balance OF this force Il spent in
oompressing the springs Of the draft appli-
ances ON both trains and in wrecking the
rear part OF the train that is struck. There
fore IL Is plain that In case of head or rear
collisions the front or rear parts OF the
train, as the case may be, are dangerous
places, and the front more 80 than the rear
for the reason stated, and for tho further
reason that the forward cars OF passenger
train are usually lighter aud less strongly
built than the heavy parlor or sleeping cars
that usually make up the rear OF the train
The blow OF head collision will do more
damage TO the forward cars of train than
acolliding blow Of equal force will to the
rear cars OF the train as ordinarily arranged.
For this reason the very best form OF in
surance for travellers is parlor or sleeping
car ticket, although the rear car OF the
train, even II Of the strongest construction,
may be destroyed In a rear collision.
The belief is becoming quite common
that the safety OF passengers Is not jeopar-
diEed very much by the higher train speeds
that are now attained. There are good
reasons for the belief Il is probable that
the fastest train on n railroad Is the safest
TO ride on. OF course the higher the speed
at which train runs the greater is It's po-
tentiality OF self destruction, but ~ such
can result only from accident safety is
really enhanced by the higher speed because
accident Is more zealously guarded against
on the fast than the slow train, aud tho
probability OF its occurrence therefore is
largely decreased. The cars Of the fast
trains on our railroads and the engines
that haul them are perhaps more carefully
inspected and arc certainly more carefully
maintained in the sRfest aud most perfect
running order than are the cars and engines
Of slower aud what are considered less Inn
portant trains.
The most competent and reliable en-
ployoes are generally selected 10 operate
the fast trains, aud perhaps the chief ele.
ment OF the safety OF these trains lies in
the fact that not only the men who operate
them, but all the employees connected
with the tfnln service on the division Of
the road on which the fast train Is run.
ming, are on The qui vlvo respecting It's
safe and successful passage. Interference
with IL Ia nay way Is sure 10 get the en-
ployec ~ fault into trouble, and tho
knowledge OF this inspires all who hava
20 do with the movement OF trains with
unusual alertuees in regard 20 the spreial-
" fast train.
Each of these influences Ia n safeguard
ngaiust accident, and their combined Of.
feet h TO make The very fast trains very
safe trims 70 travel on.