drivers of the danger they were incurring when driving at a rate verging on 50 miles an hour. It is a rule to shut off the steam on descending gradients, but in this instance it appears from the evidence that the engineer did not shut off the steam till after the engine had jumped off the rails. General Pasley also objected to the peculiar construction of the engine; but without entering on this point, it is remarked in the "Civil Engineer's Journal," February, 1846, "a much more serious source of error on the Norfolk Railway appears to be the manner in which the transverse sleepers are laid, being made of unsquared timber sawn in half lengths. Now these half cylinders are not (we understand) laid with their flat side downwards, when they are firmly supported by the soil, but, on the Norfolk Railway, the sleepers are laid with the flat side uppermost, and a pressure on one side of the sleeper would cause it to slip round."

A very serious accident occurred on the Great North of England line, on the 1st January, 1846. For some days engineers have been working experimental trains on the Great North of England line, and on that portion between Thirsk and Northallerton more particularly, to test the actual amount of speed that could be attained. This morning a new engine was brought out, drawing carriages weighted at 70 tons, and at half-past nine o'clock away

went the train like an arrow, reached Thirsk station in safety, when the speed was increased to the greatest momentum, and when about 400 yards beyond the station, a violent oscillating motion was observed, which increased every yard, until the engine was thrown upon her broadside against a slight cutting, upon which some of the carriages were thrown, and all more or less damaged. The shock had been fearful, and yet the engineers, most providentially, escaped injury; one man only, the poor fireman, was thrown on his head upon the opposite rails, and so seriously injured that he was not expected to survive very long.

A very serious collision took place at the Chesterfield station, on the Midland Railway, on Tuesday, January 13. 1846. The down train from Derby to Leeds arrived at the station with most terrific speed, and although her steam was shut off, in consequence of the rate she was going at, was unable to stop, and ran with fearful violence into a mineral train which was crossing at the moment. The engine of the passenger train was thrown off the line, and it was almost a miracle that none of the passengers were either killed or wounded.

Undoubtedly the danger from great increase of speed may be rendered less with judicious management; but as engines are increased in power, and increased momentum is given them, they are rendered liable to be easily carried off the lines by the wheels meeting the most trifling obstruction. It must be obvious the entire command over the machine becomes more difficult, and it therefore becomes a matter of deep consideration, what limit should be given to the

velocity of locomotive trains, or what should be maximum speed, as either prudent or safe; indeed it appears, perhaps, a step required to give security to the public, that some legislative regulation should be made on this subject. Few will not admit that risk must arise from the foolhardy manner those entrusted with locomotive engines are so often apt to view danger, arising, probably, from the same feeling which makes those who reside near to the crater of a volcano callous as to danger. Notwithstanding, therefore, every precaution, or the best rules for railway management which can be devised, there will still remain the liability to accidents from rashness and imprudence. As railways become extended over the country, and almost the only mode of conveyance, we may be prepared, at first, even with improvements on the system of locomotive travelling, from its extent, for, perhaps, an increase of accidents. These will be lessened, however, to a great degree on the aggregate amount by increased experience and good regulations. As the safety of railway travelling is wholly dependent on the degree of perfection in the management the science of locomotion has attained, it should therefore be an object to be guarded against, that great increase of speed, while it

obviously increases the risk, may not beget a system of over-confidence and fearless indifference which is often the precursor of some fatal result.

How

many

fearful accidents have we seen from causes which no one could anticipate, and which generally come when most unsuspected, and when least danger is apprehended.

ACCIDENTS FROM NEGLIGENCE.

That many of the preceding accidents owe their origin in a great measure to negligence, cannot be disputed; but there are, however, some accidents so distinctly attributable to carelessness that the cause of them cannot be mistaken.

An accident occurred, June 10. 1845, on the Greenock line near Paisley, which originated from negligence or want of circumspection. A special train was hired at Greenock, and the passengers came up with the superintendent of the Greenock station on the tender without any carriage attached; they came up with great speed, and, when close to the Paisley station, came unexpectedly on men who were repairing the line, and who had at the time a piece of the rail lifted. There was neither time for the workmen to give the signal for the engine to stop, nor could the driver arrest its progress, but as soon as he saw the danger they were in, the steam was turned off and the pace slackened

as far as possible, but on coming up the wheels ran into the uncovered earth, and were imbedded to the axle. The tender and engine were separated and thrown over by the collision, but fortunately no person was seriously injured. This almost miraculous preservation of life most probably arose from the men in the tender keeping their places, and taking a firm hold, at the time of the collision, to which course they were advised by the superintendent with much presence of mind.

Another accident occurred on Aug. 1. 1845, of a most serious and alarming nature, upon the Northern and Eastern or Cambridge line, which miraculously was not attended with most fatal consequences. It originated evidently from mismanagement, or culpable negligence. It appears that in the up-train, which started from Cambridge about eight o'clock, the passengers were alarmed by a sudden collision of the carriages at the new branch to Newport. It was found that the tender had got off the line by the neglect of the man to set the points. Fortunately the train had just been put in motion, and the impetus was not great, and so no casualties occurred.

A melancholy and fatal accident occurred on the North Midland Railway, at Masborough, in Oct. 1845, by which a poor man lost his life. One of the goods trains from Derby had arrived on a Saturday at the Masborough station, at half-past one o'clock P.M., when a portion of the carriages-six in number-laden with iron, were detached from the train in order that they might be run into one of the sidings. A fireman, named John Turner, was about to do this, when the deceased unfortunately attempted to cross the line, just as the train was shunting or backing. He was knocked down, and three carriages passed over his legs and thighs, when, strange to say, with his legs dissevered, he managed to drag himself off the rail before the three remaining carriages, with engine and tender,