The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-20
WHEN KING TRAVELS
Precautions to Secure Safety
Of Edward VII.
ALL TRAFFIC IS SUSPENDED
OaIy Exception Made is In Favor Of
Passenger Trains and Freigbts
Carrying Fish-PilOt Engine Goes
Ahead and WOrIkmen Guard the
Track-WhistIing Forbidden.


Going north, his majesty always travels
at night. writes II. w. Lucy in Chambers
Journal, describing the precautions taken
by railways to assure the safety Of King
Edward when ne travels on their line. Sa-
loon and sleeping berths are lighted by
electricity. Between each carriage and the
guards van there Is electrical commune
cation. In addition 10 a special cord plac-
ing the guard and the driver instantly in
communication. In a carriage N the
rear of the train rides one of the prinei
pal officers Of the company and the car
riage superintendent They are in COM
mand Of a full complement OF artihcers,
ready to meet every one Of the almost
impossible emergencies that might arise
on the JealOusly guarded journey.
A lookout man stands on the engine
tender. Differing from the lookout man
on board a ship, he turns his back to the
approaching prospect. keeping watch
toward the rear of the train, ready 10
note any signal that may be given There
are two guards, one in the front van and
one in the rear. 1t would be supposed
that with ali these precautions, and others
yet to be described, the royal train might
be left to make it's own way. That is
not the view taken by those responsible
for the Kings safety
Fifteen minutes in advance Of the royal
train runs a pilot engine. If there be any
danger In the way It viii bear the brunt,
and timely warning viii be given. A
person OF fertile. not 10 say criminal. i'm
aginatiOn might suppose that accidentally
OF designedly, the rail- could be blocked
within the space marked by the passing
OF the pilot engine and the arrival Of the
royal train. This would be found impos-
sble. The intervening space, at distances
not exceeding a quarter Of a mile. is
guarded by a line Of plate-layeTs provided
with hand signals and decorators. Each
on his beat carefully examines the line
before the royal train approaches.
No PrecnutiOn Overlooked.
By an exaggeraton Of caution. the OBJ
jet Of which is not Immediately apparent.
every man must remain al 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 link Of the prime Of Brit
ish workmen. all the way from Euston
station 20 Ballater, in the far-of High
lands
Even these elaborate precautions do not
satisfy the anxiety OF royalty's guar
dams. 1t win be seen that the line on
which the King travels IS kept under sur
Neillance for at least ten miles ahead. the
distance az which the pilot engine leads
the way But there Is the possibility that
train passing southwark as the King
journeys northward may break down
Within the limit Of this jealousy guarded
ten miles and obstruct the parallel line.
The contingency is met by a simple per
vmptory edict.
The up-rail. OF the down parallel with
that on which the Kings train runs. is
1 tempO5 Irily devastated OF traffic. not only
ut the actual hour the royal train will
pass. but for a precedent interval For
thirty minutes before it is due to pass
a given point no engine, train. or We
hicle is allowed to proceed along or across
the line Heavy traffic is temporarily
paralyzed. il being decreed that for q
similar period all shunting operations on
/ lines adjoining the main road must be
suspended
When in the early DAYS Of Queen Vic
/ toTia's Journeys TO Scotland these rules
were drawn up. Il was ordered that no
trains or engines might be allowed 10
/ travel between any two stations from the
time the pilot engine was due until the
royal train haG passed-that is 10 say. for
q period Of fifteen minutes. This regu-
lation proved little too drastic even for
so loyal body Of men as those who sit
I 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
rangemcn5 Is made for rapid unloading
ut the termini. Obviously Il would be "a
serious thing for train laden with cod
and soles 70 be pulled up for a bad quar-
ter of an hour while Billingsgate. only
partially succeeding in Modifying the
language OF its commentary, was waiting
for the contents.
Must Not whistle.
But while these trains moving south
ward are allowed TO come between the
wind and the Kings royalty the drivers
are enjoined when approaching any point
toward which the royal train is advancing
to brig their trains. whether containing
fish or engers-sOles or souls-to a
speed not exceeding thirty miles an hour
Moreover they must refrain from steam
whistling wheo anywhere near the pres
ence Of royalty. Drivers Of trains stand
ing in sight waiting for the passage Of
the royal trains must, on pain OF instant
dismissal. prevent their engines from
blowing off steam or whistling.
Ordinary traffic is finally paralyzed by
the boiling and padlocking of all facing
points or switches over which the pilot
engine and royal train pass. As for the
gates OF level or grade crossings where
there are no gatekeepers. they are locked
one hour before the royal train is due, the
country roadside traffic meanwhile get
ting along as best it may. Finally the
public is studiously kept out of any sta
ton at which the royal train may stop TO
take water or other refreshments
Thus, over desolated railway track
through barrica5ed stations, past a liv-
ing hedge Of sable-bodied wOrkmen, his
majesty, King Edward WI, securely trav-
els between HIS pleasure houses.