§ MR. WARDLE (Stockport)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the tank engines of the precursor class running on the London and North Western Railway, in the neighbourhood of Stockport and Buxton; if he will inquire into the number of times these engines have left the rails during the past six months; and whether their construction is such as to render them dangerous to work upon this portion of he railway.
§ *Mr. KEARLEYThe Board of Trade have communicated with the London and North Western Railway Company, and are informed that these engines, which were specially built to work passenger trains over the steep gradients between Manchester and Buxton, have proved a success, and that the company do not consider that their construction is such as to render their use upon this portion of the railway dangerous. It is added that in the last six months engines of this last class have been derailed on five occasions, of which four were in sidings and not on running lines, while the other i occurred when passing through a crossing which was being re-laid, the chairs being temporarily held by spikes.