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Document Summary

This Act - introduced only 79 days after the Armagh collision - signalled a loss of patience with the railway companies on the part of the public, after a series of serious accidents; each of which would have been prevented by the introduction of the famous 'lock, block and brake' measures.

Measures contained in the Act were;

  • Mandatory introduction of fixed block signalling;
  • Mandatory introduction of interlocking of points and signals;
  • Mandatory introduction of continuous brakes;
  • Creation of the means to finance such measures, by issuing debenture stock;
  • Mandatory submission to the Board of staff overtime levels;
  • Introduction of penalty charges for passengers without tickets;
  • Requirement to print fare on every ticket issued.


    • Please note that this Act is presented in its original form as passed. This Act may have been amended by subsequent legislation. For details of amendments please see the UK Statute Law Database at www.statutelaw.gov.uk.

    This document was published on 30th August 1889 by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

    It was written by Her Majesty's Government.

    The original document format was Paper, and comprised 3 pages.

    This document was kindly sourced from Parliamentary Archives and is in our Primary legislation collection. It was added to the Archive on 24th January 2005.

    Copyright Information

    This document is Crown Copyright, and is subject to the terms governing the reproduction of crown copyright material. Depending on the status and age of the original document, you may need an OPSI click-use license if you wish to reproduce this material, and other restrictions may apply. Please see this explanation for further details.

"1.-(1.) The Board of Trade may from time to time order a railway company to do, within a time limited by the order, and subject to any exceptions or modifications allowed by the order, any of the following things:
(a.) To adopt the block system on all or any of their railways open for the public conveyance of passengers;
(b.) To provide for the interlocking of points and signals on or in connexion with all or any of such railways;
(c.) To provide for and use on all their trains carrying passengers continuous brakes complying with the following requirements, namely:
(i.) The brake must be instantaneous in action, and capable of being applied by the engine-driver and guards;
(ii.) The brake must be self-applying in the event of any failure in the continuity of its action;
(iii.) The brake must be capable of being applied to every vehicle of the train, whether carrying passengers or not;
(iv.) The brake must be in regular use in daily working;
(v.) The materials of the brake must be of a durable character, and easily maintained and kept in order."

Timeline:
Lock, block & brake

1850
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Cowlairs on 1st August 1850

1852
Accident Returns: Extract for Accident at Aynho on 20th October 1852

6th August 1852
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Burnley on 12th July 1852

1853
Accident Returns: Extract for Accident at Straffan on 5th October 1853

20th January 1855
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Two Mile Bottom on 30th December 1854

3rd October 1860
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Helmshore on 4th September 1860

14th January 1861
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Atherstone on 16th November 1860

6th February 1861
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident between Bangor and Ty Croes on 10th January 1861

18th March 1861
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Blue Pits on 6th March 1861

4th May 1861
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Bromley Junction on 27th April 1861

9th October 1861
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Kentish Town on 2nd September 1861

15th October 1861
Accident Returns: Extract for Accident at Clayton Tunnel on 25th August 1861

30th June 1866
Accident Returns: Extract for Accident at Welywn Tunnel on 9th June 1866

3rd October 1868
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Abergele on 20th August 1868

24th November 1868
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Wigston Junction on 31st October 1868

12th December 1868
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Hillhouse on 2nd December 1868

15th January 1869
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Euxton Junction on 18th December 1868

29th January 1869
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Hyde Road on 29th December 1868

10th August 1869
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Borough Market Junction on 28th July 1869

20th August 1869
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Barnet on 16th August 1869

24th August 1869
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Winsford on 17th July 1869

9th October 1869
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Strensall on 1st September 1869

21st October 1869
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Lostock Junction on 30th September 1869

15th September 1870
Accident Returns: Extract for Accident at Tamworth on 14th September 1870

1870
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Harrow on 26th November 1870

28th December 1870
Accident Returns: Extract for Accident at Stairfoot on 12th December 1870

29th December 1870
Accident Returns: Extract for Accident at Brockley Whins on 6th December 1870

17th February 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Craigenhill Sidings on 16th January 1872

23rd February 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Littleworth - Spalding on 28th January 1872

16th April 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Leeds, West Wortley Junction on 20th March 1872

29th April 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Kirkdale Junction on 28th March 1872

23rd July 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Harrogate on 28th June 1872

14th August 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Agecroft Sidings on 3rd August 1872

16th August 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Reading on 20th July 1872

17th August 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Blue Pits on 24th June 1872

21st August 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Liverpool Exchange on 16th July 1872

22nd August 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Holytown Junction on 15th July 1872

26th August 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Haughton on 31st July 1872

28th September 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Lower Greenhill Junction on 16th September 1872

4th October 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Kirtlebridge on 2nd October 1872

15th November 1872
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Kinnersley - Moorhampton on 24th October 1872

6th January 1873
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Lowmoor on 16th December 1872

1874
Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Bo'ness Junction on 27th January 1874

2nd September 1875
Accident Returns: Extract for Accident at Kildwick on 28th August 1875

8th July 1889
Accident Returns: Extract for Accident at Armagh on 12 June 1889

30th August 1889
Regulation of Railways Act

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