Mr. Walker, the superintendent of the telegraphs of the South-Eastern
Railway Company, remarks:—“On New Year’s Day, 1850, a collision had
occurred to an empty train at Gravesend, and the driver having leaped
from his engine, the latter darted alone at full speed for London.
Notice was immediately given by telegraph to London and other stations;
and, while the line was kept clear, an engine and other arrangements were
prepared as a buttress to receive the runaway, while all connected with
the station awaited in awful suspense the expected shock. The
superintendent of the railway also started down the line on an engine,
and on passing the runaway he reversed his engine and had it transferred
at the next crossing to the up-line, so as to be in the rear of the
fugitive; he then started in chase, and on overtaking the other he ran
into it at speed, and the driver of the engine took possession of the
fugitive, and all danger was at an end. Twelve stations were passed in
safety; it passed Woolwich at fifteen miles an hour; it was within a
couple of miles of London when it was arrested. Had its approach been
unknown, the money value of the damage it would have caused might have
equalled the cost of the whole line of telegraph.”