A HUNDRED TO ONE CHANCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1659, 12 November 1887, Page 3

A HUNDRED TO ONE CHANCE.

The work of putting in m-w rails is generally done in the night, and one mil can ba putin its place and boltel down in two or three minutes. In the old days, when nigbl-gangs were rare, passengers ran, unknown to themselves, some carious risks through the want of care on the part of platelayers. A ganger, who had done duly on the Great Western Railway, once told ns that ho was with his men laying some new rails on that portion of the lino between Reading and Oxford. He bad, by his watch, nearly an hour to work before the “ down express” to Birmingham came along. A rail was accordingly taken up and a new one about to be placed down, when, to his horror, the ■moke of the express appeared in the distance, His watch was subsequently discovered to have slopped.

With great presence of mind he ordered the men instantly to place the rail in its position, and to leave it there, unbolted. Ihey did so, and stood by With bated breath while the train dashed along, going over fifty miles an hour, Ic passed, to (heir utmost astonishment, in safety ; and although the rail rattled about, it did not tilt..np, and an accident Was avoided. As the ganger said, “It Wis a hundred chances to one against the engine taking the rail ■ without disturbing it.”