New Britain herald., 1924-10-15
COMMUNICATED
DANGEROUS CONDITION
 AT BERLIN STATION

DANGEROUS CONDITION
 AT BERLIN STATION
 Editor, New Britain Herald:
 In, that the columns of the New
 Britain Herald have always been a manifestation of fairness, permit to
 be inserted therein delineation of
 an extremely lamentable drama which. no doubt. will not be amiss
 to the interest of readers. The mat ter here. of which l treat, regards
 the real safety and existence not
 only of those resident in New Brit
 ain but many people from other towns and cities who seek ingress to
 and egress from this city
 The scene is at the railroad sta-
 ton in Berlin. while the leading
 roles are enacted by the New York.
 New Haven and Hartford Railroad
 Co.,. the travelling public and grim eternity. This drama is portrayed daily; 1t vaunts an incessant run"
 (mostly for safety) of many years.
 Berlin (New Britain Junction), as 1t appears in railroad timetables, is a terminus for the Berlin Middletown electric line, New Britain Berlin line and an important station on the New Haven-Springfeld line. It is at this point that road patrons, com ing from any one of four directions, transfer to trains on another line and hence to their respective des- tinations. To travel from New Brit ain to Middletown, or vice versa. necessitates crossing the tracks-a dangerous practice compelled by the present situation, where gates or other protective devices are not pro- vided, the only protection being the occasional appearance of station employe who. perchance, may sound 8 tocsin or strain his voice in an endeayor to notify travellers of i'm minent danger.
 Patrons alighting from north bound trains intent on proceeding to New Britain, are, of course, forced to wait on the east platform until the northbound train leaves the sta- ton. They then proceed to cross the tracks and their efforts in doing so usually result in frenzied rush to obtain seat in the other train. Many do this without looking in an opposite. direction, seemingly ob- livious Of the possibility that another train might be speeding toward them. Those in the lead are care less and negligent while others who follow assume much for granted, believing that those who precede them are careful and judicious and therefore they exercise no pre- caution. .s
 It is at this point, and lay par ticular stress upon it for it forms the hasis of the motive which im- pelled me to write this communica- tion, that much danger turks and where the lives and personal safety of those who travel over this route are placed in peril. During five years of daily travel I have wit messed many close escapes from death at this junction, Like other commuters, I have become familiar with the junction and its attendant dangers. which. naturally, causes me to be more alert than an occasional traveller.
 There has come to my knowledge the information, to this effect, that one of the rules governing the oper- ation of trains strictly forbids an engineer from proceeding through station with his train, where no fence divides tracks, while a pas- senger train is at standstill and within station limits. This rule is qualified, however, when adequate precaution is exercised and engineers are permitted to advance slowly. The latter procedure may be par doned so long as sufficient warning has been given, fI
 Picture, for instance, as frequent ly occurs, a fast moving freight proceeding south and approaching the station where, at the same time, another northbound passenger train is leaving the depot. The engineer of the freight train may continue its speed and still comply with reguIa- lions providing the passenger train has started to proceed northward put of the station before he enters the station limit. That this pro- cedure exists is literally true. The rules of the road are obeyed. but pity and compassion to the unthink- 1 ing or infirm who may some time be victim beneath train wheels as a result of this hazardous arrange nent.
 At three different places along the station platform. planking has been installed between>the rails, appar- | ently to allow hand trucks to be | 1rawn to opposite sides. This planking Is worn to a degree of I unsafety to permit human traffic to | pass over 1t without becoming liable l 10 sprained or twisted ankles. Many. however, choose to walk on | he road bed when crossing to oppo- site sides.
 Whether out of wisdom and fore | sight or regard for human safety l