Ail Unlighted Train

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29872, 12 July 1962, Page 3

Ail Unlighted Train

Sir,—The attention of the public should be drawn to tlie necessity of keeping a most careful look-out at level crossings. On Friday night, while travelling south by car, I met a goods train travelling north at speed without a headlight. The time was 7.5 p.m., just a mile or so north of Orari. In the vicinity were a number of level crossings without warning devices, and on a dark night, as this was, a train without even lighted carriages is an unexpected hazard. I presume our traffic inspectors have no jurisdiction over unlighted trains as they do over unlighted cycles Would that be an anomaly?— Yours, etc.. J-JR. July 2. 1962.

j [The district traffic manager Lof the Railways Department 11 ’Mr E. C. Brittenden) said: '“The District Mechanical EnPgineer, who investigated this matter, advises that at one l point. where the roadway is close to the rail, the eng’ine- ' driver switched the engine i headlight off as a line of several motor-cars approached, to avoid any inconvenience to the drivers. He did not approach close to. or j pass over, any level cross-

ings without the headlight burning. Engine-drivers are being advised that headlights should not be switched off for this purpose.”]