THE MACEDON ACCIDENT

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS

Sir,- One would think that if the handbrakes on the van and trucks had been promptly applied before the air brake leaked off it would not have been easy for the trucks to run away. On such a line, with such a volume of traffic, it appears strange that the railways authorities do not employ a "bank engine' at the rear of the train to prevent runaways and broken couplings. A "smash" like that at Macedon more than counterbalances the extra cost of the engine. There was at one time a prejudice against employing an engine at the rear of the train. but the practice is now common, a notable instance being the Lickery incline (on the Midland, England, main line, between Bristol and Birmingham) up which both passenger and goods trims are assisted by "bank engines". For assisting the goods trains the company built a 0-10-0 locomotive with three 18½in. cylinders (all high pressure), and this engine takes the place of two 0-6-0 tank engines formerly used as "pushers." -Yours, &c.,

GEO. F. CUSSONS
Ivanhoe, Feb. 7