The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-28
HOW RAILROAD ACCIDENTS
ARE SOMETIMES AVERTED.

| 1t is fact not generally known that
on some of the leading English rail-
ways there is system of awarding Il
signalmen annual bonuses of varying
amounts-from $40 to $25-according to
the Importance of the boxes of which
the recipients have charge. These DO"
muses. are, of course, quite additional I'd
the mems wages, and they are intended
to encourage the men to exercise cau'
ton and vigilance in the performance
of their duties. Each mans record fol
the year is examined before the bo-
muses. are awarded, and any case OF
neglect or serious oversight that may
have occurred leads to the reduction OF
total nonallowance- of the bonus fol-
the year.
Special rewards are also occasionally
given to signalmen and others for cons
spicuous vigilance or promptitude in
preventing accidents. 1t will readily
be understood that in 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 Tina
rules for guidance. They must know
intuitively what is the right thing to
do and do it 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 signaIed from the north end Of
the tunnel The signalman at the south
end instantly gave the stop approach~
ing train signal to the man at the
north end, and the latter just as prompt
ly threw his signals to danger and held
out his red flag to stop the express
which by that time was within few
yards of the entrance to the tunnel.
The sigIlalmen who had acted Sc
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-5
ed by a n 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 signalman's authority. There
was no time to stop the freight train,
but the signalman Immediately turned
his switches and diverted it on to a
side track and so prevented collision.
He re ceived the thanks of the directors
accompanied by no less welcome re-
ward in cash.
In another case while a 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. Tho
watchfulness and prompt action of the
three men prevented a terrible disas-
ter and they We're each warmly CONS
mended and substantially rewarded.
A passenger train started from onS
of the largest stations in the country
and was entering the tunnel just nortk
of the station when the driver of an ins
coming train made signs indicating
that there was an obstruction in the
tunnel. The driver of the outgoing
train acted on the signals and stopped
the train just clear of an engine which
W DIS SldHUlllS III IIlt lAliliiti anu WHICH
had been forgotten by the signalman
The signalman was dismissed, the two
drivers were commended by the di.
rectors, ard the one in charge of thC
incoming train was also rewarded by
money grant.
An engine at another station placed
six loaded coal cars in a siding and
then ran light to the next station, about
mile and a half away. Unfortunate
ly proper steps had not been taken I'd
secure lhe cars, and they began to run
back toward the main line unnoticedc
Gaining speed, they passed over th(
switches and were soon careering away
after the engine. Half a mile away
three plate layers working on the lin[
saw what was happening, and whil(
one of the men ran back to stop any
approaching train the other two, al
considerable risk to themselves, ran
alongside the cars, pinned down tho
brakes and brought the runaways to a
stand A suitable reward was prompt,
ly voted to each man.