The Protection of Royal Personages.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7, 20 February 1908, Page 13

The Protection of Royal Personages.

othe? 6 dar t imMs aS vs y t,*i't at 1h tt ° ok ta Lisbon the ;h,"2.." b :s, ;, Bxra jvsesb? „.s Hi 5; Tf v *"■■'-" sj^-s hi advance en reCeiVed flOm the Wodn post sld47are 1S dve * All shuntin S s on the line and Suspended at Least Half an Hour Before the approach of the ' Royal express ' ° ™*t m l ne v aI ' or cattle trains travelling along the Senmn? have to become stationary within SK S D J? °v l he passing of the R °y al - An these stetion wl * +i, be brou S ht t0 a standstill at the last station where they can call, and remain under the prodei - ?h P o *t»&A + nd le fi? ards are responsible, unS the station-masters, for the careful examination of or* is l suspii°ous. the tX " Ck ! t0 See that nothin S P r °J ects ™v T +?- 6 emission of ' sm o^e, blowing off- of steam, and t£ re prohibited rr h «^ the Royal passes, and In rWiS / P ass ? n ger trains the drivers are specially lutely nfcessar^ 0 whlstlin S when passing unless ab&o-Station-masters have many extra duties to carry out. They are responsible for placing reliable men at

facing-points over which, the Royal train runs thirty minutes before it is due, and have to arrange for the ' examination of the facing-points, which are securely clipped ( and padlocked shortly before • the passing of the Signal-Boxes Have to be Visited and the signalmen, staff, and flagmen inspected as to efficiency in the duties they have to perform for the occasion. The flagmen are supplied with a complement of hand-signals and a supply of detonators. Goods yards and sidings adjoining the line are inspected to see that everything is satisfactory and that all • projections are clear of the line upon which the Royal train runs. Approach-road gates and gates leading to goods yards and sidings are closed and locked half an hour in advance, and the keys are supposed to be in the possession of the station-master- until the train has passed. In the case of fog, detonators are placed on the • iines for the pilot, and these are replaced an the passing of the pilot, but taken up again immediately the signals are lowered for the Royal train to pass. In cases where . a pilot cannot be run the preceding passenger train is regarded as t^e pilot, and acts as such. Great care is taken in the"' selection of engines, drivers, and other oilicials ; and in respect of brakes and the working of the communication cords special instructions apply. Electrical bell communications are In use for stopping the train out of. course, and when these are used the Guards JETave Special Duties Cast Upon Them - to ascertain the cause. When the train is brought to a standstill under these circumstances the front guard has to proceed along the corridor in the direction ' of the Royal saloon (but must not enter the Royal compartment), and examine the indicators fixed on the inner side of the corridor over each door until he finds, the one on which the word ' Guard ' appears. He then has to ascertain from the occupants of the compartment wihat is amiss and report to the railway officers in charge of the train. Ihe indicator can only be restored to its normal position by means of a key or appliance supplied for the purpose. The engine-drivers have to pay instant attention to these special signals. The company which owns the stock forming a Jttoyal train furnishes artificers to accompany it throughout the journey, and arrangements are made for other artificers to be in attendance at stations to Render Assistance if Necessary. Guards are responsible for" the entering in their reports of the number of - persons who travel in the Royal train, other than the railway officials, '.and also have to gi\e particulars of any animals that may .be conveyed by the train. % To coipe with any stoppage or interruption 1 with the telegraphic communication, a special telegraph in- - strument, with the necessary appliances and staff, is carried by the -train, {by means of which telegraphic communication can at once be established at any place *in case of need. The call for this special service receives* precedence over every other signal. Through the engineering departments plate-layers are stationed along the line, within signalling distance of each other, to signal the Royal train ; land slackening of speed owing to new works, relaying operations, and the like are strictly observed. Detonators are only used in case .of emergency, and all detonators unused and hand-sigaals are returned to the sta-tion-masters and carefully v checked after the Roya.l train has run. All .level crossings and occupation crossings are strictly guarded three-cyuarters of an hour before the pilot is due, and nothing is allowed to cross the line between the pilot and the Royal train. 1 At each stopping place t>>e train is examined , by artificers, .and the signal to start must not be givenuntil, the guard has been verbally informed that the examination has been completed j and is satisfactory.] Most minute instructions are given and carried out in relation, to the working of the telegraph, and no signalman must give permission for the train which fol- . lows next the Royal train to leave the station in - the- rear until ' Train out of section ' has been ' received for the Royal train from the station in advance. At any platform- where Royalty has to alight a distinctive chalk mark is made at the exact spot I at ' which the footplate "of the engine should be when ( "the train stops, and a onan is posted on the {platform with a red flag at the chalk mark to ensure [the train being stopped, diead at the appointed place. As is well tonown, special precautions prevail in connection with keeping platforms and stations- clear on such oc- - casions. i