A civil engineer, of long experience in connection with railways, gives
some reassuring statements as to the precautions taken in keeping the
lines in order. The majority of accidents occur, not from defects in the
line, but from imperfections in the living agents who have charge of the
signals and other arrangements of trains in transit. The engineer
says:—“To begin at the bottom, we have the ganger of the ‘beat,’ a man
selected from the waymen after several years’ service for his aptitude
and steadiness, whose duty it is to patrol his length of two or three
miles every morning, and to make good fastenings, etc., afterwards
superintending his gang in packing, replacing rails, sleepers, and other
necessary repairs. Over the ganger is the inspector of permanent way,
responsible for the gangers doing their duty, who generally goes over all
his district once a day on the engine, and walks one or more gangers’
beats. The inspectors, again, are under the district superintendent or
engineer, who makes frequent inspections both by walking and on the
engine. The ganger, if in want of men or materials, reports to his
inspector, who, if they are required, sends a requisition to the
engineer, keeping a small stock at his head-quarters to supply urgent
demands. The engineer in his turn keeps the whole in harmony,
sanctioning the employment of the necessary men, and ordering the
materials, the only check upon the number of men or quantity of materials
being the total half-yearly expenditure. Directors never within my
experience grudge an outlay necessary to keep the line in good order;
but, should they limit the expenditure from financial motives, it would
then clearly be the duty of the engineer to recommend a reduction of
speed to a safe point. Occasionally, idle gangers are met with, who are
always asking for more men, and as naturally meeting with refusal.