AVOID DANGER.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1926, Page 3

AVOID DANGER.

CAR.W IN R A ILAA’AY SHUNTING AVET.I jINGTON, May 18. AA'ith the object of minimising hazardous practices frequently unnecessarily adopted and encouraging members to avoid undue risks in tlie course of .shunting duties, ihe secretary of the New Zeal ana Railway Board lias issued a pamphlet to shunters and others engaged in shunting duties, containing a number of very useful hints' supplied by experienced shunters for the guidance of members. The circular is tlie outcome of several shunting accidents which occurred at Tliorndon, Palmerston North, and elsewhere, and shows a determination on the part of the department to reduce the risk of mishap in the va rd.

“Avoid Danger” is the general advice tendered, and under the heading of safety first the following practical suggestions are advanced:

Don’t take unnecessary risks, even if others do. The safe course is the best. Give signals promptly and distinctly. Keep a good look-out ahead for wagons standing foul or coming in another direction. Don’t, walk unnecessarily between rails, or stop back on to them, without looking. "FSB BRAKES HARD.

- Don’t walk arms a track through steam or smoke. When bringing wagons to a stand at the end of a road allow a length or two lor humping, and put one or more brakes hard down. Use a trailing brake for pre-ference—-it is less dangerous. Look out for had hnffens. Afark “dangerous” any wagons with damage to buffers.

Beware of wagons entering sheds or narrw limits. Ride on the stop of wagons for preference. Don’t attempt to jump on the front of a fast-moving engine. Don’t cross over the cowcatcher in front of a moving engine. Don’t cross legs getting on or off

moving vehicles. AIOVING ON THE TRACK

Don’t attempt to couple or break couplings of moving wagons, and don’t attempt to move wagons being coupled or uncoupled. Don’t cross over between fast-moving wagons. In cutting off wagons faee the way the wagons are going. Take a grip of the side of the wagon with the hand not required to lift the hook. It is not necessary to get between the rails to da this. If unable to lift the hook stop the engine. Keep your feet clear of switches and check-rails.

Don’t slip wagons where you can conveniently run around them. It is a dangerous practice. Tail-ropes are dangerous in inexperienced hands. Don’t allow an inexperienced mate to do riskv jobs. ON THE DRIVERS’ SIDE.

AVork where possible on the driver’s side of the engine. He will then get your signal direct. Keep the. driver informed of what you propose to do. Keep your mind concentrated on your job. Keep your mates informed of what you arc doing. Don’t wear faulty hoots or loose clothing. Don’t cross the rails in front of a moving vehicle to apply liana-brake. AVhen wagons are kicked, steady them with a hand-brake to lessen bump and avoid damage to drawgear, as a broken buffer may result in a member being crushed between two wagons. AVhen turning points press lever down and make certain points are properly set.

A DRAMATIC S'! ORA'. The discovery of argon had as its immediate result the discovery of helium by Ramsay, the full story of which was one of the most dramatic in the history of science. The French as-, tronomers Janssen, first saw the lines of its .spectrum in the chromosphere during an eclipse in India in 1808, and shortlv afterwards Lockyer concluded that these must he due to an unknown gas present in the sun. Shortly after the discovery of argon, Sir Henry Ariers, who was then working in the British Afuseum,' wrote to Ramsay, drawing his attention to. an observation made by Hillebrand in AVashing-, ton to the effect that clevite gave out a quantity of gas which he th:»might he nitrogen or possibly argon. Ramsay did not let- the grass grow under his feet, but bought some clevite the same day, and during the afternoon found in the gas derived from it. the characteristic yellow line of helium, a discovery that was shortly afterwards confirmed by Crookes.