HC Deb 22 February 1905 vol 141 cc897-8
MR. BELL (Derby)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the advisability of appoint a Royal Commission or Departmental Committee to inquire into the question of railway companies using tank engines to run passenger trains above a certain limited speed.

MR. BELL

I beg also to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state how many cases of derailment of tank engines running passenger trains have occurred during the twenty years ending 1904; and if he will give a Return of these showing date, place of accident and railway, class of tank engine (saddle or side tanks), and the conclusions of the Board of Trade inspectors relative thereto.

MR. GERALD BALFOIIR

I would direct the attention of the hon. Member to the report, to the Board of Trade made by the Senior Inspecting Officer of Railways with reference to the accident on the Great Western Railway which occurred between Llanelly and Loughor on the 3rd of October last. This report has recently been published, and I shall be happy to supply the hon. Member with a copy. In the concluding paragraph of the report Colonel Yorke suggests that the Associated Railway Companies should be invited to appoint in expert committee for the purpose of inquiring into and reporting upon the behaviour of tank engines of all types and classes under different conditions of speed. I have specially directed the attention of the Railway Association to colonel Yorke's recommendation and have asked them to express their approval of it. I propose to await the result of any inquiry made by the railway companies themselves before considering the necessity for further action. In the meantime I will cause a Return to be prepared of the cases of derailment of tank engines drawing passenger trains that have occurred during the past twenty years and have formed the subject of inquiry by the Railway Inspecting officers of the Board of Trade. This Return will include the particulars mentioned by the hon. Member, together with other material information so far as available. To give the total number of derailments without these particulars would not, I am advised, be useful, and might be misleading.