Page:A voice from the signal-box.djvu/23

19 there was great danger of a collision occurring, but this (from a signalman) was thought of no importance, and was therefore not then attended to. Only a few weeks afterwards a collision did take place under the very circumstances that I had pointed out, and the company have since had to pay thousands of pounds for compensation; whereas, had my warning been attended to at once, such accident could not have occurred, as the protection I had asked for was very simple, but quite effective.

There was another dangerous point to which I called an official’s attention, but, like the former, it was left too long without remedy; for a few nights afterwards (I was not on duty myself) it was only by a miracle that a collision was averted at the very spot; and as soon as it became known to the higher officials, it was at once seen that such an improvement as I had pointed out was urgently required. This has since been done, with very good results; but, to some extent, it puts me in mind of the old saying, “Locking the stable-door after the horse is stolen.” I may here remark that men are sometimes appointed to the position of signal-inspectors who have never done one hour’s duty in charge of a signal-box in their lives. Just fancy an official of this kind being entrusted with the very important duty of seeing that signalmen thoroughly understand all the important points connected with their duties that I have named! How is he to know whether those placed under his charge thoroughly understand their duties if he does not possess that knowledge himself? If any knotty point is brought under his notice, the only answer is—“Oh, you must do the best you can,” which is certainly very good advice under the circumstances. But it often happens that before a signalman becomes acquainted with the dangers I have enumerated from his own experience, he has done immense injury, and although the mischief may not have met the eyes of the public, it enters deeply very often into the pockets of the shareholders in respect of compensation for break-downs upon the line, detention of goods, damage to rolling stock, permanent way, &c.