Signalling Developments.

Science can, and does, aid the railways to an enormous degree in many branches. Now and again, however, the practical railwayman is inclined to ask: “Are we becoming too scientific in certain directions?” Railway signalling is a case in point. In his recent presidential address to the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers. Mr. W. S. Roberts spoke feelingly of the danger of relying too much upon scientific machinery, and disregarding the natural gifts of the signalman.

One of the most important and difficult problems confronting the signal engineer, it was stated, was that of harmonising the growing application of irrevocable mechanisms with the flexibility of operation and the freedom and intelligence of action of the human element.