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THE

POLYTECHNIC

REVIEW AND MAGAZINE

OF

Science, Literature, and the Fine Arts.

EDITED BY

GEORGE G. SIGMOND, M.D.,

ETC., ETC.

VOL. II.
JANUARY-JUNE, 1845.

LONDON:-

JOHN MORTIMER, ADELAIDE STREET,

TRAFALGAR SQUARE.

MDCCCXLV.

LONDON:

GEORGE WOODFALL AND SON,

ANGEL COURT, SKINNER STREET.

THE

POLYTECHNIC

REVIEW AND

MAGAZINE.

PREVENTION OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.

ON THE PREVENTION OF THE RECURRENCE OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS AND THE USE OF SIGNAL FIRES.

THE last month has been fatally distinguished by several severe accidents on railways, particularly by one at Nottingham, where, from the collision of two trains during the fog, several lives have been sacrificed, in addition to severe injuries inflicted upon individuals. In consequence of the neglect that was exposed by this inquiry, the public attention has been strongly directed to the necessity of the Railway Companies adopting some more efficient means of counteracting those dangers which the weight of the engines travelling at so rapid a rate must cause; but though the press, with scarcely an exception, has been indefatigable in pointing out these evils, it is painfully evident, from the evidence, as detailed at the inquest, that no efforts have been made by the directors; instructions, it is true, are given to the servants, but with the continual change to which such extensive establishments must be exposed, very little reliance can be placed upon their attention to the elaborate code framed to meet every variety of accident. From the power which the crown begins even now to exert over these gigantic monopolies, we can alone hope for the adoption of those remedies which science could afford, and of which the directors on this line of railway are clearly not aware. late accident was due entirely to the fog; it was proved no object could be seen beyond a few yards, and amidst the conflicting evidence, we can learn that the signal to stop was not heeded. Colonel Pasley examined the place where the accident occurred, and a letter has been published from that officer, attaching blame to an engineer, Mr. Lightfoot, but had government, for this inquiry, as for that of the late colliery explosion,

VOL. II.-N. S.

B

The

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