The Westinghouse Continuous Brake.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 224, 23 December 1880, Page 2

The Westinghouse Continuous Brake.

(From Iron.)

One of the best managed of English railways has taken another step towards ensuring the safety of the human freight carried by it. The directors of tho,t company have decided to apply- the Westinghouse brake, in use on their lines, to the engine as well as to the carriages and tender of express trains. The company would have been saved heavy damages, and their passengers great and in many cases prolonged suffering, incident to recent disasters, if this precautionary measure had been adopted earlier. It is. true that the uncertainty of all safeguardi that human ingenuity is able to provide—however perfect they at first sight may appear—has been too often demonstrated. Yet their introduction will contribute much towards prevention, which, as we allknow, is better than cure. If to this be added a more stringent adherence to' regulations laid down for the guidance of railway servants, all that human foresight possibly can do has been done, and we shall in all probability in future hear less of railway accidents than hitherto. The Westinghouse brake is the best at present known for stopping trains within short distances and diminishing their speed. Wo hope the good example of the Midland Company will be speedily followed on all our principal lines.