The Safest Seat in a Car

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The frequency of collisions on railroads has raised the question, which is the place of greatest security in a railroad train? The Railroad Journal gives the following as an answer:— " It is very well known that the car nearest the engine is exposed to the least dust, and that the rear car of a train is generally safer than the front car. The safest is proba-i bly the last c.u bat one,, in a train of more : thai! two eais; that is, there are fewer chances of accidents to this than any other. If it is a way train at moderate speed, or any train standing still, a collision is possible from another train in the rear; in which case the last car receives the first shock.— Again, an engine and the front cars of a train will of't?n go over a broken rail, or a cow, or stone, without derailment, while the last car, having nothing to draw it into the line of the train, is free to leave the track. Next to the forward car the rear car is probably the most unsafe in the train. The safest seat is probably near the centre of the last car but one, and in a very long train in the centres of the last two or three cars next to the last." [This is the only rational answer that could be given, but how can every passenger be accommodated with a seat in the central car ?

Scientific American Magazine Vol 8 Issue 44This article was published with the title “The Safest Seat in a Car” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 8 No. 44 (), p. 346
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican07161853-346h

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