BOY IN MAN’S JOB.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3526, 30 December 1913, Page 5

BOY IN MAN’S JOB.

HOW A SMASH OCCURRED

[INDEPENDENT PRESS CABLE]

LONDON, Dec. 21

Lieutenant-Colonel Druitt, one of the inspecting officers of railways to .the Board of Trade, lias reported on the smash in the tunnel outside St. James’s station, Liverpool. The report states that the accident was due to Signalman Thompson’s error, ;md condemns the practice of boys being allowed to manipulate the signals unless fully qualified as assistant signalmen.

[lt was stated at the time of the smash'that , the signalman on duty in the section in which the'accident occurred was accompanied in the box by a boy who frequently attended to the telephone. ... While the signalman, who has a record of 33 years’ service, was attending to the levers after the express train to Manchester had passed through the telephone bell sounded. The bov answered the call and then rang off. The signalman is believed to have assumed that the telephone message was to the effect that the 2.30 train was clear, and, accordingly, he pulled his lever to permit the 2.35 express to leave the Central station. Having done this he inquired from the bov whether the telephone message received was what he had assumed it to lie and was astounded to learn that it had nothing to do with the express, but referred to some local tram. He at once realised that his precipitate action might have created a very dangerous position, as he had. signalled the second express before he had been satisfied that the line was clear. In order to retrieve his error it is said that he set the lights in the tunnel at danger, hoping thereby to stop the second express, but his action tailed to achieve the purpose he had in view. I