The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-16
WHEN KING
EDWARD TRAVELS
THE MANY PRECAUTIONS TAKEN
no ASSURE HIS SAFETY ON
TRAINS

TRAINS.
From Chambers Journal. g
Going north. his majesty always
travels at night. Saloon and sleeping
berths are lighted by electricity. Be.
tween each carriage and the guards
van there Is electrical communication.
in addition 70 special cord placing
the guard and the driver instantly in
communication. In carriage In the
rear OF the train rides one of the prin:
cipal officers of the company and the
carriage superintendent. They are in
command OF a full equipment OF artifi.
GERS. ready to meet every one Of the
almost impossible emergencies that
might arise on the jealousy guarded
Journey. n
A lookout man stands on the engine
tender. Differing from the lookout
man on board ship. he turns his back
to the approaching prospect, keeping
watch toward the rear of the train.
ready to note any signal that may be
given. There are two guards, one in
the front van and one in the rear. II
would be supposed that with all these
precautions, AMI others yet to be de.
scribed the royal train might be left
to make its own way. That is not
the view taken by those responsible
for the Kings safety
Fifteen minutes, in advance of the
royal train runs pilot engine. II
there be any danger in the way 1t will
bear the brunt, and timely warning
will be given. A person OF fertile, not
to say criminal, Imagination might
suppose that, accidentally or design.
eddy, the rail could be blocked within
the space marked by the passage of
the pilot engine and the arrival of the
royal train. This would be found i'm
possible. The intervening space, at
distances not exceeding a quarter of a
mile. is guarded by line of platelay.
ers provided with hand signals and de.
tonators. Each on his beat carefully
examines the line. before the royal
train approaches.
By an exaggeration of caution, the
object of which is not Immediately ap.
parent. every man must remain at his
post ten minutes after the royal train,
flashing by, has disappeared in the
murk OF the night. Each keeps within
sight of his fellow on the right hand
and on the left. So they stretch, a
living line of the prime of British
workmen, all the way from Suston Sta.
ton to Ballater, in the far-off high.
lands.
Even these elaborate precautions do
not satisfy the anxiety OF royalty's
guardians. 1t will be seen that the
line on which the King travels is kept
under surveillance for at least ten
miles ahead. the distance at which the
pilot engine leads the way. But there
is the possibility that a train passing
southwark as the King journeys north
ward may break down within the lin.
It OF this jealousy guarded ten miles
and obstruct the parallel line. The
contingency is met by simple per-
cmptory edict
The up rail of the down parallel
with that on which the Kings train
runs is temporarily devastated of traf.
fc, not only at the actual hour that
the royal train will pass, but for a
precedent interval For thirty minutes
before 1t is due to pass given point
no engine, train, or vehicle is allowed
to proceed along or across the line.
Heavy trafRc IS Temporarily paralyz-
ed. it being decreed that for SINH.
lar period all shunting operations on
lines adjoining the main road must be
suspended.
When. in the early days of Queen
victoria's journeys to Scotland, these
rules were drawn up, 1t was ordered
that no trains or engines might be al.
lowed to travel between any two sta
lions from the time the pilot engine
was dite until the royal train had pass.
ed-that is to say. for a period of Of.
Teen minutes. This regulation proved
u little too drastic even for so royal a
body of men US those who sit at the
board OF railway direction. The order
was modified by an exception in favor
of passenger trains and OF fish trains
with respect to which a special ar.
:angement is made for rapid unloading
at the terminal. obviously 1T would
be serious thing for train laden
with cod and soles to be pulled up for
a bad quarter OF an hour, while Bill
t:ngsgate. only partially succeeding in
modifying the language of It's com.
iuentary, was waiting for the contents.
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