Fors Clavigera (Volume 3 of 8): Letters to the workmen and labourers of Great BritainRuskin, John
General
Fors Clavigera (Volume 3 of 8): Letters to the workmen and labourers of Great Britain
Ruskin, John
Aesthetics; Conduct of life; Great Britain -- Social conditions -- 19th century; Social problems; Working class -- Great Britain
Sept. 10.--London and North-Western, at Watford. Passenger train
left the rails where the points are placed, and one carriage was
overturned; several persons injured, and many severely shaken.
Sept. 10.--Great Northern, at Ardsley. Some empty carriages were
put unsecured on an incline, and ran into the Scotch express;
three carriages smashed, several passengers injured, and driver,
stoker, and guard badly shaken.
Sept. 11.--Great Eastern, near Sawbridgeworth. A goods train,
to which was attached a waggon inscribed as defective and marked
for repair, was proceeding on the up line; the waggon broke down,
and caught a heavy passenger train on the down line: one side
of this train was battered to pieces; many passengers severely
shaken and cut with broken glass.
Sept. 12.--East Lancashire, near Bury. A collision between two
goods trains. Both lines blocked and waggons smashed. One driver
was very badly hurt.
Sept. 13.--London, Chatham, and Dover, near Birchington
station. Passenger train drove over a number of oxen; engine was
thrown off the line; driver terribly bruised; passengers severely
shaken. Cause, the animals got loose while being driven over a
level crossing, and no danger signals were hoisted.
Sept. 15.--Caledonian line, near Glasgow. Passenger train ran
into a mineral train which had been left planted on the line;
one woman not expected to survive, thirteen passengers severely
injured. Cause, gross negligence.
Same day, and same line.--Caledonian goods train was run into
broadside by a North British train; great damage done; the guard
was seriously injured. Cause, defective signalling.
Sept. 16.--Near Birmingham. A passenger train, while passing
over some points, got partly off the line; no one severely hurt,
but all shaken and frightened. Cause, defective working of points.
Sept. 17.--Between Preston and Liverpool, near Houghton. The
express train from Blackburn ran into a luggage train which was
in course of being shunted, it being perfectly well known that
the express was overdue. About twenty passengers were hurt, or
severely shaken and alarmed, but no one was actually killed. Cause,
gross negligence, want of punctuality, and too much traffic.
Same day.--Great Eastern. Points not being closed, a cattle train
left the metal and ploughed up the line, causing much damage and
delay in traffic. Cause, negligence.
Same day.--Oxford and Bletchley Railway. Axle-wheel of waggon
broke, and with seven trucks left the line. A general smash
ensued; broken carriages were strewed all over the line, and a
telegraph post was knocked down: blockage for four hours. Cause,
defective axle.
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