REGULATIONS FOR POLICEMEN AND POINTSMEN.
1. Every Policeman on duty is to stand upon the Line clear of the rails, and to give the proper signal on the passing of an Engine.
2. Every Policeman will be supplied with a whistle, to aid in calling the attention of the next officer in communication with him to a signal; and no signal must be considered to be received until answered by the Policeman to whom it is passed.
3. On a Train stopping at a Station after sunset, the Policeman on duty is to see that the Tail and Side Lamps are lighted and in order, and, if not, he is to report the same to the Guard of the Train, as well as to the Clerk on duty.
4. On a Goods or Coal Train stopping at a Station, the Policeman on duty is to ascertain from the Breaksman at which Station the Train is next to stop, that he may inform the Engineman and Guard of the following Train. This precaution is more especially enjoined during foggy weather.
5. On a Policeman having to stop a Train, he is to tell the Engineman the cause, and then let the Train proceed, unless he has orders to detain it, in which case he is to desire the Engineman to draw on until the whole Train is well within the Signal Post, to admit of a following Train stopping at the Signal, without risk of collision.
6. When a Train stopping at a Station extends beyond the Signal Post, the Policeman on duty is to go back in rear of the Train with his Hand Signal, to a distance sufficient to ensure its being well observed by the Engineman of any other Engine that may be following.
7. This precaution, though at all times necessary, is more particularly so with the Up Trains at Weedon, Roade, and Leighton.
8. The Policeman stationed at the New Canal Bridge, near Birmingham, when he cannot discern the Signal at the Junction of the Gloucester Railway, is to show the Green Signal to every Engine passing towards Birmingham, and the Engineman is then to bring his Engine to a stand at the Ticket Platform unless there signalled to proceed.
9. At the junction with the Midland at Rugby—the Bedford at Bletchley—the Aylesbury at Cheddington—the Peterborough at Blisworth—the Leamington at Coventry—the Manchester and the Chester at Crewe—the Macclesfield at Cheadle, where Stationary Signals are placed, the Policeman is to keep the Red Signal always turned on to the Branch Line, to prevent an Engine passing to the Main Line until he has ascertained that the Main Line is clear, when he is to turn the Signal off the Branch and on to the Main Line.
Note.—The Trent Valley is henceforth to be considered the Main Line, and the Rugby and Birmingham, and Stafford and Birmingham, the Branches.
10. Every Engineman on a Branch Line must bring his Engine to a stand in foggy weather before he reaches the Junction-points, and not enter on the Main Line till he shall have ascertained how long the preceding Train has passed; the Policeman is to give all the information required.
11. Policemen are hereby apprised that, except in cases of emergency, none but Regular Trains are to be permitted to travel in a FOG; and on these occasions when a Train stops at a Station, the Auxiliary Signals must always be used, as shown by Rule 13, page 165.
12. Policemen must also take notice, that, to avoid risk of collision on Single Lines, no extra Engine, with or without a Train, will be allowed to pass along the Line without previous notice.
13. Every Policeman is supplied with Detonating Signals to place on the Rails in foggy weather, and he is on these occasions to use them in addition to the ordinary Red Signal. (See Regulations for Use of Fog Signals.)
14. Every Policeman is responsible for his Stationary as well as Hand Signal Lamp being well trimmed, and showing a clear and distinct light.
15. The Policemen generally are not to allow strangers to trespass on the Line without written authority, and they are to report any occurrence of this nature to their Inspector. They will also respect any orders which the officers in charge of Stations may think necessary.
16. On a Policeman stopping a Train at the entrance to one of the long Tunnels, from another Train having passed within ten minutes, he is not to detain the Train beyond two minutes, but simply to inform the Engineman and Guard of the character of the Train in advance, and the time that has elapsed since it passed.
17. Should a Train issue from one of the long Tunnels, at which Police are stationed, without the Tail Lamp on the last carriage, the Policeman on duty is immediately to walk back through the Tunnel with his lamp to ascertain whether a carriage has not been left behind, and, should this be the case, he is then to go on to the other end to instruct the Policeman there stationed to put on his Red Signal to stop any Engine from entering the Tunnel.
18. The Policemen stationed at Tunnels and intermediate Stations are directed to be very particular in making the Signals according to the Regulations. (See Signals.)
19. In all cases where Telegraphic communication is laid through a Tunnel, the Policeman at the entrance thereof is to sound the Bell on a Train going into the Tunnel, and the Policeman at the other extremity is to respond to the Signal on the Train emerging from it.
20. The Policeman stationed at the South entrance of the Primrose Tunnel is to sound the Alarum as soon as an Up Train enters the Tunnel, that the Camden Station may be made aware of the approach of a Train, and, if a Goods or Cattle Train, he is to turn it into the siding. Should it be a Passenger Train, the Policeman at Chalk Farm Bridge is to pass the Signal to the Euston Station.
21. When the Policeman at the South entrance of the Primrose Tunnel cannot distinguish the Signal at Chalk Farm Bridge, he is to show the Green Signal to every Engine passing towards Camden Station, and the Engineman is then to bring his Engine to a stand at the same Bridge unless signalled to proceed.
22. The Policeman in charge of the facing Points at the summit of the Incline at Camden is not to move them to allow an Engine to run into the siding, unless the Engineman motions with his hand. (See Rule 48, page 176.)
23. The duties of Pointsmen in charge of Switches are very simple, easily understood and remembered, and are at the same time not heavy, but they require great care, attention, and watchfulness, for any neglect may cause very serious accidents; Policemen are, therefore, warned always to be on the alert, and cautious in the discharge of their duty as Pointsmen.
24. The Pointsman is to be careful in keeping his Switches clear and well oiled: and whenever a Train has passed over, he is to see that no particle of coal or dirt has dropped within the Points, so as to prevent them from closing, and also that they are replaced in the proper position. He is also to try his Points before the passing through of a Train, that he may be thoroughly satisfied there is no impediment to their true working.
25. Where, from the peculiarity of the Line, it is necessary to employ facing Points, these precautions become doubly important.
26. Whenever, from the passage of a Train, the Points, Crossings, or Guide-rail receive injury or strain, or the rails themselves are split or chipped, the circumstance must immediately be reported.
27. In order to assist in discriminating Luggage Trains at night from Passenger Trains, the former carry a Green light on the Buffer-plank; but it must be understood that this is intended merely as an auxiliary signal, and is not to be relied on for turning a Train into a siding, which is only to be done when the Policeman on duty shall have satisfied himself as to the character of the Train.