APRIL 3.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1123

266. No unoccupied Sleeping-van, Guard’s Van, or other Vehicle fitted with a stove or other heating apparatus may be run on a Train unless the fire has been extinguished.

Members travelling in such Vehicles are responsible for the fires.

TRAIN STOPPED BY ACCIDENT, FAILURE, OR OBSTRUCTION ON LINE.

267. When an accident or Obstruction of any kind occurs on any part of the Line, it must be immediately reported by Telegraph, or by the most expeditious means, to the next Station or Signal-box on each side of the place where the accident occurred, to the Officer who has control of the Train running on that portion of the Line, to the District Engineer, Inspector of Permanent-way, and to those Stations where the starting or crossing of other Trains is liable to be affected by the delay.

268. (a.) The Ganger or Senior Member of the Maintenance Branch will take charge of the operations for clearing the Line.

(b.) In the absence of any Ganger or Senior Member of the Maintenance Branch, then the Senior Member of the Traffic Branch on the spot will be responsible for taking immediate steps to communicate with the nearest Maintenance Member, and to commence clearing the Line if practicable. Pending his arrival, and in the absence of a Traffic Member, the Senior Locomotive Member must act similarly. Particular care should be taken by all persons to note any facts which may appear to explain the cause of an accident—such as the state of the Permanent-way, condition and position of the Rolling-stock, time of accident, speed of Train, &c.; and the attention of the responsible Member on the spot should be called to any facts which may be observed.

(c.) Lifting and replacing on the Line of all Rolling-stock must be done to the satisfaction of the Senior Locomotive Member on the spot.

269 (a.) When, from accident or any other cause, a Train is stopped on the Main Line, the Engine-driver, after taking such steps as may be necessary for the safety of the Engine, must immediately communicate with the Guard of the Train, and receive his directions.

(b.) Except where the Train is efficiently protected by Fixed Signals, the Guard, if there be only one, or the Under Guard or Brakesman if there be two or more, shall immediately protect the Train in the rear, the Fireman protecting the Train in the front. The Train shall be protected in the following manner: The Guard shall go back and the Fireman forward at least 800 yards, or more as provided below, plainly exhibiting the Hand Danger Signals; and, in addition, they must, at every interval of 200 yards, place a Detonator on one of the Rails, and, at the distance of 800 yards, or more as provided below, three Detonators, 10 yards apart, must be placed, and the Danger Signals conspicuously exhibited to stop any approaching Engine or Train, even if such Engine or Train be not expected. On Double Lines if the opposite Line is not Obstructed the Train need only be protected in the rear. If the distance of 800 yards falls in a Tunnel the man shall proceed 400 yards beyond the Tunnel, and place the Signals as described above. If a Train be stopped on, or near, the foot of an Incline, the Danger Signal on the higher side must be placed 1,200 yards from the Train, with Detonators as described above. The Guard must not return to his Train until recalled by the Engine-driver sounding the Whistle, or otherwise communicating with him, and when recalled he must leave the three most distant Detonators, taking up the others on his return.

(c.) If there is no Guard, the Engine-driver must send his Fireman to the rear and a Surfaceman or other competent person to the front, the Train being protected on both sides as indicated in clause (b) above. The Engine-driver must also send information to the nearest Station, but he is not himself to leave the Train unless he cannot otherwise protect it.

(d.) The Engine-driver, in absence of the Guard and Fireman protecting Train, if it be Foggy, Dusk, or Dark, must see that the Engine Lamp shows a Red Light forward, and the last Vehicle shows a Red Light backwards, thus putting Red Lights to show in both directions.

(e.) It will not be necessary to carry out these precautions for the protection of Trains on Single Lines when the Engine-driver is in possession of the Train Tablet or Staff, but should the Engine-driver part with the Train Tablet or Staff for the purpose of sending for assistance, the Train must be protected by the Guard as indicated in clause (b) above.

270. (a.) If a second Train comes up before the Obstruction be removed, the Guard of second Train will leave his Van and proceed to protect his Train, as directed in preceding Rules. The Guard of first Train, having assured himself that the Guard of the second Train has gone back with the necessary Signals for protection of the second Train, may then rejoin his own Train. If other Trains arrive, the same Regulations must be carried out, the Guard of the last being the protector of the whole.

(b.) Should a Train be disabled at a Station so that it cannot proceed, and cannot get clear of the Main Line, the Guard or Engine-driver must, unless the Train is efficiently protected by Fixed Signals, act in all respects as instructed in Rule No. 269.

271. When a Train is divided on any Running Line from accident or inability of the Engine to take the whole forward, and the Engine has to take forward a portion of the Train and return for the remainder, the following procedure must be adopted :—