§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company have sent in to the Board of Trade a report of the alarming accident at Brockholes, between Huddersfield and Holmfirth, on Saturday last, when it is stated that a portion of the train which left Huddersfield at noon, on being detached, rushed down an incline at high speed, and came into collision with goods waggons in a siding at Berry Brow; whether the Inspectors of the Board of Trade have repeatedly recommended Railways Companies to adopt automatic brakes, with the view of preventing accidents of this nature; whether Colonel Rich, in his Report on a collision which occurred on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways at Daisyfield Junction on the 7th of August 1880, owing to the parting of a train on an incline, stated that that collision would probably not have occurred if the train had been fitted with an automatic brake; whether General Hutchinson, in his Report on the serious accident near Southport, on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, on 2nd November 1882, stated that the automatic 345 vacuum brake in use on the train saved the part of the train which remained on the rails from disaster by stopping it within seventy yards; whether it appears from the last Returns under the Continuous Brakes Act that the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways Company has 998 vehicles fitted with automatic and 1,488 fitted with non-automatic brakes; and, whether the Board of Trade will, in consideration of these facts, urge on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company the necessity of a more rapid adoption of automatic brakes on the whole of their rolling stock used for passenger trains?
§ THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)The Lancashire and Yorkshire Company have not sent in a Return of the accident to which the hon. Member refers; but the Board of Trade have directed an inspecting officer to hold an inquiry into the circumstances connected with it. The Railway Inspectors of the Board of Trade have repeatedly recommended Railway Companies to adopt automatic brakes. Colonel Rich, in his Report on the collision which occurred on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway at Daisy-field Junction, on the 7th August, 1880, did state that the collision would probably not have occurred if the train had been fitted with an automatic brake. Major General Hutchinson also reported, as stated by the hon. Member in his Question. It does appear from the December Returns, under the Continuous Brakes Act, that the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company has 998 vehicles fitted with automatic, and 1,488 fitted with non-automatic brakes; and I will direct a copy of the hon. Member's Question to be forwarded to the Company for any observations they may have to offer.