Remarks on railways : respectfully submitted for general consideration, as to their support and improvement / by an octogenarian officer, in retirement.

  • Este, M. L. (Michael Lambton), 1779-1864.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on railways : respectfully submitted for general consideration, as to their support and improvement / by an octogenarian officer, in retirement. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    submitted % May not secondary ways, branches, needless and expensive, be turned into tramways % Several experienced orientals who have passed their lives in India, think among the many improvements now intended for India, tramways may be found preferable to railways in the long valleys, less costly, more easily repaired, where iron rails can be laid in wild coun- tries easily, where machinery is not understood. Where locomotive engines are retained, may not safety be promoted by an enlarged safety valve, so arranged that an engineer or stoker, could let all the steam rush out at once when required; by strong breaks to each carriage, in roads with appreciable declivity, such breaks as are seen on heavy waggons, to prevent any rolling down hill backwards; by double strong connecting links, 8$c. ; by reducing speed, to a rational rate; and by not allowing the established moderate rate to be exceeded. As messages are now flashed, to and fro by lightning, along the electric telegraphs; may not exces- sive speed and risks be spared to travellers on railways l and this, moreover, with advantages to the rail, as well as to the passenger. Are not excursion trains both dangerous and destructive in wear and tear % Should not the number of carriages, and of passengers, be strictly limited in each train, and proportioned to the engine power % otherwise the rage for what is called pleasuring, would induce vast multitudes to rush into the rail- ways as they rush on board steamers, regardless of all the discomfort and dangers they are causing, both to themselves, and to their conveyancers. An ancient philosopher, Butler said to his cotemporaries, “No prudent man should ever run The needless risks that he may shun.” Affairs are altered since his day ! That railways may be maintained in aue estimation, is the earnest prayer of an humble patron in M. L. ESTE, M.D., late of the Life Guards, E.R.C.S., &c., &c.