14 MAY 1948, Page 5

On the occasion of a bad railway accident several years

ago it was suggested by The Spectator that when a train is stopped at night unexpectedly the guard should run back over the line not with a quite inadequate red lamp, but with a flare such as are used by ships in distress at sea. The difference, when it is a question of stopping an oncoming train is obvious. A red light cannot be seen round a curve ; a flare lights up the whole sky. I hope the Railway

Executive will consider this. jmus.