Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-17

DISCUSSION OF uiSdStels oH <AHiei iScii
railroads during the last year consti-
tutes an important feature of the re-
port.
1t is pointed out that many of the
accidents resulting in fatalities might
have been ayefted by the exercise of
proper precaution or the employment
of suitable devices and good equip
ment.
VFigures given show that of the total of
S.215 derailments during the year, 1877
were caused by defects of roadway
and 3,S47 We're due to defective equip
ment This indicates an increase over
the previous year of 652 in the derail-
ments due to bad roadway, and 1923
due to bad equipment.
The investigation by the Commission
itself of railroad accidents involving
loss of life, the report says, has pro-
ceeded far enough to indicate the need
of more Neffective measures than thus
far have been taken TO secure safety
of railroad travel" While the previ-
Gus suggestions of the Commission as
to the adoption by the railroads of all
steel or steel-underframe, cars are be-
ing adopted cas- rapidly as conditions
will permit, and 1.-The danger from the
use of unsound cars is gradually dis
appearing" The serious dangers OF
defective roadway and the use of I'M
sound rails still remain, as result OF
which derailments are likely at any
time to occur. Concerning its inVestl-
cations. the Commission says:
"of the 81 derailments Investigated,
IA were either directly or indirectly
caused by bad track. In of these IA
cases the derailments would probably
have been avoided had existing speed
restrictions been observed; but in all
the remaining cases no adequate spee1
restrictions were in force, and IN .
cases the track conditions were so OBJ
viously unsafe that derailments were
likely to occur even at low speed. In
one serious derailment, an examina-
ton of the track in the vicinity OF the
accident disclosed 906 rotten ties With
in a distance of 147 rail lengths I'm
der many of the rails there We're as
many as IL bad ties, and under each OF
rails there were u ties so badly de-
tayed and broken as to be totally I'M
fit for service. In many OF these ties
the spikes were so loose that they
were easily removed by hand, the wood
having no longer any holding power.
The track in the vicinity OF this aeei-
dent was poorly ballasted and was un-
safe for the passage of trains at ordl-
nary speed. This derailment occurred
on straight track while the train was
running about 80 miYes per hour
The report says that the most dis
feature in the
problcm of accident prevention is the
large proportion of train accidents
caltsed bv dereliction of duty by the
employee involved. The Commission
believes that as rule there are no
men that have a keener appreciation
of their responsibilities than railroad
trainmen and enginemen, and vet II
Sc nointed out that 63 per cent. of the
whole number of accidents investigat-
ed were caused by mistakes on the
part of employees.
'strhere is disposition III some
quarters" continues the report, TO
charge these lamentable errors to fall
1re of discipline and to hold employees
wholly responsible for such failure
This is a superficial view which con-
tains no promise of effective remedy.
"a remarkable increase in the speed
and weight Of trains within recent
wears. and the crowding of tracks and
terminals caused by the movement Oh
an enormously enlarged volume OF traI-
fic. have greatly increased the duties
and responsibilities of tram service
employees and multiplied the chances
of error on their part. Notwlthstanl-
ing these added duties and responsible
tiles which the conditions of modern
rallioading have imposed upon EN-
ntoyees. the methods of discipline and
regulations calculated to insure salely
in train operation have remained prac-
tically unchanged.
."ro prevent railroad collisions ade-
ouate measures must be taken, first,
Ia reduce the chances of human error
to a minimum and second to neutraLze
the effects of such error when IL &C
ours. The recommendations previous
ly made by the Commission Tor legis-
lation requiring the standardization OF
operating rules and the use OF the
block system were designed 20 reouce
the probability of mistakes by en-
ployees. and those recommendations
are once more presented for considefa-
ton of the Congress. Uniformity and
consistency in operating rules are nee
essary to secure safety. and 1t is not
probable that satisfactory coue
which will meet the demands of mod
ern operating conditions can ~-be Sc
cured without appropriate action by
the Federal Government"
The Commission points out that ex
cessive speed has been an important rae
tor in many train accidents, and ina
conditions of safe operation are Otter
ignored in the effort to bring fast TRAINS
in on time. TINS is bad practice, fol
which the travelling public is largely re-
sponsihle, and it should be discontinued
Adequate measures should be taken To
compel low speed wherever conditions
require it whether schedules are mann
tanned or not s-st
The total number of casualties or
Nsteam roads, during the year ended June
30, was 1S0123, of which 10,5S5 We're per-
sons killed and 169,53s injured. These fig-
ures indicate an increase over the pre-
4 IN nod