It has come to the attention of the General Manager that on this Railway, non-vacuum fitted goods vehicles are often marshalled in mixed trains ahead of the passenger vehicles at the rear of the train. This practice should be discontinued as it reduces the braking capacity of the train and also leaves passenger vehicles without the obligatory continuous braking system. We also noticed non-vacuum fitted goods vehicles often being attached to the rear of a passenger-carrying train without a brake van bringing up the rear. Therefore the following rules regarding goods services on the Railway will be in force from today.

1. Brake vans and brake end carriages. The last vehicle in every train is required to be a brake van, excepting passenger trains consisting entirely of vacuum-braked vehicles, in which a brake end carriage may follow or lead the train instead.
2. Goods vehicles in passenger-carrying trains. The goods vehicles in a passenger-carrying (i.e. a mixed) train should always be marshalled together.
3. Vacuum-braked goods vehicles in passenger trains. A maximum of three vacuum-fitted goods vehicles carrying express goods, fish or livestock may be attached to the rear of any passenger train, provided all vacuum pipes are connected together and the vacuum brake on the last vehicle is in operation as proven by the test in Rule 8.
4. Non-fitted vehicles in down passenger-carrying trains. In no case may the number of non-fitted vehicles in a down mixed train (i.e. faced towards Dunalistair) constitute more than a third of the total number of vehicles in the train. Any non-fitted goods vehicle surpassing this ratio should be left behind to await the next goods-only working.
5. Order of fitted and non-fitted vehicles in a train. Non-fitted vehicles should always be marshalled behind any vacuum-fitted or piped vehicles, and should always be followed by a brake van.
6. Down gradients. On approaching a down gradient of over 1 in 50, the train should halt to pin down half the non-fitted vehicles' handbrakes.
7. Safety chains. The safety chains on all vehicles in a train should be connected together, even if the vacuum pipes are connected.
8. Brake testing. After any change in train make-up involving vacuum-fitted stock, the continuous brake should be tested before departure as follows:

• Allow the vacuum brake system to charge correctly and ensure that 21 inches of mercury can be maintained.
• Open the vacuum valve either on the engine or on the last fitted vehicle and observe the brake blocks on the last fitted vehicle in the train to apply within three seconds.
• Close the vacuum valve and observe the brake blocks on the last vehicle to release within ten seconds as the vacuum ejector on the engine operates and ensure that 21 inches of mercury is recovered and maintained.
• If either of the two preceding requirements is not fulfilled, the train shall not depart until the fault has been rectified.

Revised with thanks to Mr David R Burleigh, General Manager, Llanmynach & Tawel-Llety Railway, Merionethshire.

By Order.

Signed: T.W.Polet, General Manager

The 4th of February, 1910.