WHICH IS THE SAFEST PLACE IN A TRAIN?

Bush Advocate, Volume XVII, Issue 131, 13 June 1905, Page 2

WHICH IS THE SAFEST PLACE IN A TRAIN?

A recent railway accident raises a question frequently discussed among travellers, namely, which is the safest part of a railwaj train? Students of the details of all the important disasters of recent years have com© to the conclusion that those occupying the centre carriages hare the best chance of escaping without injury in the ©rent of a> collision; but, of course, ererything depends upon the particular nature of the accident. Th© recent collision certainly adds to a raßt accumulation of evidence that whatever may be the safest part of a train, tb~ most risky seat is one in the Vehicle next to the engine, and the risk is increased enormously if the carriage be a. small one, amd conpled to one of greater weight. In. cine accidents out of ten, this is the particular carriage which receives moet damage. In. fact, between the enormous weigkt ef the engine in front and. the kuge oorridor or dining-car behind, it is trsualiy crumpled up like a match-box. Many people favour the rear carriage, a»d xo doubt this in a favourite position, because very few trains are run into frbm the rear, except trains which have been bromght to a standstill by an. accident, and in suoh cases passengers would naturally kasten to alight. The weight of evidence suggests that the passenger takes a minimum of risk if he enters the heaviest cars situated either in the middle or at th© end of the train. We have seen it proposed that each train should carry a

buffer vehicle next to tho engine, to tako tho brunt of the impact caused by a collision, or by tho engine leaving the rails. In many trains this idea is carried out by placing parcels, mail, and luggage vans iii- tlio position named.