Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/107

 "Do you mean continuously on their engines ?—Yes.

"Would he not have been able in those 35 hours to have any sleep?—When shunting on a siding he has an opportunity of going to sleep on his engine, but of course it is not comfortable sleep."

Mr. Hanbury had known of eighteen or nineteen hours being worked in bad weather, frost and snow, yet he never found a man slack in his duty on account of overwork, which speaks volumes for the conscientious endurance of engine drivers. A witness from the Irish Midland deposed that during the winter he "worked thirty to forty hours without getting off his feet."

"Did that constant employment make you feel unfit to do your work? I am sure I fell off the box, where I stand, asleep. I could not see the signals." Cases were mentioned of drivers on the same line having only six hours sleep in a week. And yet Captain Tyler reported:—

"'I should be very sorry to see any legislative interference, prescribing any particular hours for railway working. It must be left, I think, to the companies to work the men as they find it best and most convenient.'"

In other words, this ghastly state of slavery must continue, in the interests of railway capital. A Parliamentary Committee had reported in 1873 that "the companies have a direct pecuniary interest in keeping their lines safe," and we have seen the thousands of tragedies resulting because Parliamentary interference was considered unnecessary. At the close of 1872 the Board of Trade had issued a circular to the companies, stating that improved methods of working, of proved value, had been too slowly introduced, and sufficient provision had not been made for the safe working of increased traffic. This advice was of no effect. Indeed, the number of servants killed in 1873 was 148 more than in 1872, when they numbered 634, with 1,388 injured. Sir Henry Tyler advised automatic continuous brakes to be operated by drivers as well as guards; extension of the block and interlocking system,