The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-25
HOW RAILROAD ACCIDENTS
ARE SOMETIMES AvEhTE0.
THANKSGIVING DINNER AT THE WHITE HOUSE, e


Il Is fact not generally known that
on some OF the leading English rail-
ways there is a system of awarding to
signalmen annual bonuses OF varying
amounts-from $40 10 s25--according to
the Importance OF the boxes OF which
the recipients have charge. These boz
muses. are. of course. quite additional to
the mems wages. and they are intended
TO encourage the men to exercise eau
tion and vigilance in the performances
OF their duties. Each mans record for
the year is examined before the bo-
muses. are awarded, and any case OF
neglect or serious oversight that may
have occurred leads 10 the reduction or
total nonallowance of the bonus for
the year.
Special rewards are also occasionally
given TO signalmen and others for con-
spicuous vigilance or promptitude in
preventing accidents IL Will readily
be understood that I'm cases, say. OF
sudden blockage OF lines on which
trains are approaching, instant prompt
itude on the part of the men on the
spot makes all the difference between
safety and disaster. There is no time
for the men TO think or refer to their
rules for guidance. They must know
intuitively what is the right thing to
do and do IL on the instant.
A sudden fall OF rock occurred at the
south end of tunnel near London
some years ago. completely blocking
the line, just as an express train had
been signaled from the north end OF
the tunnel The signalman at the south
ssaL 4e.afN a.. L.. -. 4
ing train" signal to the man at the
north end, and the latter just as prompt
~ threw his signals TO danger and held
out his red flag 10 stop the express.
which by that time was within few
yards ot the entrance TO the tunnel.
The sgnalmen who had acted so
promptly were commended by the di-'
rectors and substantially rewarded.
A freight train travelling on the up
line through a country station was
passing the signal box when the signal
man saw that the line was being foul
ed by an engine which had been shunt-
ing on the down line and which was in
the act OF crossing TO the up line with
out the signaman's authority There
was no time to stop the freight train.
but the signalman Immediately turned
his switches and diverted il on TO u
side track and so prevented collision.
lie received the thanks of the directors.
accompanied by a no less welcome re-
ward in cash.
In another case while freight
train was shunting into a siding an
empty car ran off the rails. turned COM
pletely over and blocked the opposite
line. on which a passenger train was
approaching. The signalman witness
ed the mishap and instantly put his
signals to danger, and the driver of the
passenger train at once shut off steam
and applied his brake, being helped in
the stopping of the train by the guard.
who had been on the lookout and had
seen the signals suddenly go up. The
watchfulness and prompt action OF the
| three men prevented terrible disas-
| ter, and they were each warmly COM
mended and substantially rewarded.
| A passenger train started from ons
| OF the largest stations In the country
and was entering the tunnel Just north
of the station when the driver of an In
coming train made signs indicating
| that there was an obstruction In the
| tunnel. The driver OF the outgo.ns
/, train acted on the signals and stopped
the train just clear of an engine which
was standing in the tunnel and which
had been forgotten by the signaiman.
The signalman was dismissed, the two
drivers were commended by the d.
rectors. and the one in charge OF the
incoming train was also rewarded by a
money grant.
An engine at another station placed
six loaded coal ears in a siding and
then ran light TO the next station, about
mile and half away. Unfortunate-
ly proper Steps had not been taken to
secure the cars, and they began to run
back toward the main line unnoticed.
| Gaining speed, they passed over the
switches and were soon careering away
after the engine. Half mile away
three plate layers working on the line
saw what was happening, and while
one of the men ran back TO stop any
| approaching train the other two. at
considerable risk 10 themselves, ran
alongside the cars, pinned down the
brakes and brought the runaways to a
stand. suitable reward was prompt
ly voted TO each man.