A PLAN TO AVOID RAILWAY ACCIDENTS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sra,—So many railway disasters seem to have been due to failure to see signals owing to bad weather conditions, especi- ally fog. May I suggest a simple device to add to the faculty of Vision that of Hearing? This would double the factor of safety and make it practically impossible to overrun a signal applying to any particular track without immediate warning.
Every engine should have attached to the undercarriage a fixed bell which would be struck by a flexible metal arm which would assume the perpendicular position on the centre of the track automatically with the raising of the signal intended to block that section of the line. To make assurance doubly sure, two such strikers at an interval of 100 yards should work in actual connexion with the signal. By this means it would be impossible for any train to overrun a signal without the warning sound signal being given to the driver.
It should be a permanent working fixture on all distant signals at least. The fog signal as used at present necessitates the presence of a man on the spot for such purpose, the neces- sity for which may not always be quite apparent in the varying conditions of weather ; in addition to which it is not practicable to provide sufficient personnel at a moment's notice at all points on the system.—I am, Sir, &e.,
J. FRANKLAND
190 Woodstock Road, Oxford.
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