REGULATIONS FOR GUARDS.

1. Each ordinary Train on the Main Line is to have at least two guards, and the short Trains on the Branch Lines one Guard. If the Train is very heavy, additional Guards will be sent with it, at the discretion of the Superintendent.

2. Every Guard is to be at the Station from which he is to start half an hour before the appointed time, that he may see to the marshalling of the Carriages, and the arrangement of the Passengers’ Luggage, Parcels, &c.

He is to see that he has on the Train,

•  1 Pair of Signal Flags and Case.
•  1 Hand Signal Lamp and Box.
•  2 Canisters of Fog Signals and Blue Lights.
• 12 Links and Box.
•  1 Pair of Levers.
•  1 Box for Despatches.

3. Until the Train starts the Guards will be under the order of the Station Master.

4. Every Guard is to see that his Signal lamps are in a fit state for use and properly trimmed; the Senior Guard will ascertain that the Tail and Side Lights are securely fixed before the Train starts, and is responsible for their being lighted at sunset as well as during a Fog.

5. The Train, when in motion, will be under the order and control of the Senior Guard; the Passengers and their Luggage must be considered in his charge, and he will be responsible for the safety and regularity of the whole. He is to keep the time of running, and will be answerable that any Carriage which is to be left at an intermediate Station is detached.

6. With through Trains (viâ the Trent Valley) in which the whole journey is performed without change of Guard, there will be three Guards between London and Rugby, and the following will be the arrangements:—

The Senior Guard will run between London and Liverpool, and have charge of the whole service connected with that portion of the Train including the Traffic to the North through Parkside and that to Chester; delivering the former at Warrington and the latter at Crewe, to the Branch Guards there. The same on the return journey.

The Second Guard will run between London and Manchester, and will have charge of the whole service connected therewith, and also the road-side business in Parcels, Luggage, &c., between Rugby and Crewe. He will also keep the time between Crewe and Manchester, and make out his Way Bill for that Line.

The Third Guard will run between London and Birmingham, and have charge of the whole service connected therewith, and also the road-side business in parcels, Luggage, &c., between London and Rugby. He will also keep the time between Rugby and Birmingham, and make out his Way Bill for that portion of the journey.

7. When there are two Guards with a Train, the under Guard will ride in the Van next to the Tender. He will stand with his back to it, and keep his attention fixed on the Train, looking alternately down either side, and noting any irregularity in the running—any particular oscillation of a Carriage, or any signal which may be made by a Passenger.

He will be provided with the means of immediately communicating with the Engineman in the event of any circumstance arising which may render it prudent or necessary to stop the Train.

The place of the Senior Guard will be on the last Passenger Carriage, which must always be a Van or a Break Carriage, and his duty will be to look forward and communicate with the Second Guard on the leading Carriage.

With through Trains when there are three Guards with a Train, their position will necessarily be regulated by the division of the Line to which their section of the Train is proceeding, but the duties of the Guard on the leading and last Carriage will always be as stated above, the middle man communicating between them.

8. On arrival of a Train at a Terminus the Guards are not to leave the Platform until they have delivered over all Parcels as well as Luggage to the Porters appointed to take charge of them, and if any article is missing they are immediately to report the same to the officer in charge of the Station.

9. Before leaving the Station the Guards are to make out a return according to a printed form, noting at the foot every circumstance of an unusual character that may have happened; they are also to state on this return whether all the Parcels and Luggage by the Train have been duly delivered.

10. The number of any Carriage complained of as uneasy, and the Division to which it belongs, must be entered on the Way Bill.

11. Should any Train overshoot the Water Pillar at a stopping place by the length of the Train, the circumstance must be noted on the Bill.

12. No Passenger is to be allowed to ride outside, without special permission.

13. Guards must keep a good look-out that no Passenger on arriving at any Station gets out for the purpose of re-booking by the same Train, as this is forbidden by the Regulations.

14. Guards are forbidden to pass over the tops of the Carriages when in motion, and any Guard doing this without urgent necessity will be fined.

15. The Doors of the Carriages on the off side are always to be locked, and Guards are charged to request Passengers to keep their seats in case of any stoppages on the road, except when necessary to alight.

16. Smoking in the Carriages and at Stations is forbidden by the Regulations. The Guard must prevent Passengers endangering themselves by imprudent exposure. In the event of any Passenger being drunk and disorderly, to the annoyance of others, the Guard is to use all gentle means to stop the nuisance; failing which, he must, for the safety and convenience of all, exercise his authority, and confine him in a separate place until he arrives at the next Station.

18. Every Guard is to observe the strictest attention and obedience to all the Signals and auxiliary Signals at Crossings, intermediate Stations, Tunnels, and of each Policeman on the Line, as well as to respect all special orders which the officer in charge of Stations may think necessary.

19. In the event of accident, blocking one Line and requiring the Train to pass along the wrong Line, the utmost caution must be exercised; and no Train is to be permitted to proceed on the wrong Line without a Memorandum in Writing from a person in authority at the spot where the accident has happened. So liable are verbal messages to be misunderstood, that, should a verbal message be received to send forward a Train on the wrong Line, the messenger must be sent back for a written order before the Train is allowed to move.

20. Whenever a regular Train is to be followed by a special one, a Red Board or Flag is to be affixed on the rear of the last carriage of the regular Train by Day, and an additional Tail Light by Night. The Senior Guard of a Passenger Train, and the Guard of a Luggage Train, must ascertain for what purpose this Signal is affixed. He is to see that it is removed at the proper Station, and will report the circumstance under which the Special Train is about to follow.

21. When from accident to the Train, or from any other cause, it is necessary to secure the attention of the Engineman, the Guard is to apply his Break sharply, and as suddenly release it. This operation repeated several times is almost certain, from the check it occasions, to attract the notice of the Driver, to whom the Red Flag or Lamp must be immediately waved as a signal to stop.

22. The Guard must not allow any Passenger or parcel to be conveyed by the Train unless properly booked; and if he has reason to suppose that any Passenger is without a Ticket, or is not in the proper Carriage, he must request the Passenger to show the Ticket. When a Passenger is desirous of changing his place from an inferior to a superior carriage, the Guard must have this done by the Clerk at the first Station.

23. Great importance is attached to the most prompt delivery of Letters, Invoices, and Despatches consigned to the care of a Guard; and any neglect in this particular will be severely dealt with.

24. Prisoners who are in charge of the Police, and persons afflicted with insanity, must never be mixed along with the other Passengers, but be placed in a compartment, and, if practicable, in a carriage, by themselves.

25. Servants and others connected with the Railway (Directors excepted) are required to book and pay their fare the same as other Passengers, except the following Officers, who travel free, and have the power to grant Passes to individuals proceeding on the Company’s business only:—

These Passes must always be issued on the authorised printed Forms, and the reason of the Pass being granted must be entered on the Counterfoil.