TRAIN DISASTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 290, 19 September 1936, Page 6

TRAIN DISASTER.

NO BLAME ON THE DRIVER. CORONER EXPRESSES VIEW. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. “I am satisfied there was no negligence on the part of the Railway Department, and that no blame attaches to the driver, who did everything possible to stop the train immediately the slip became visible. I congratulate the driver and the fireman on escaping with their lives. Their escape was one of the most extraordinary features of the whole mishap,” said the Coroner (Mr Gilbertson) when adjourning, till October 5, the inquest into the death of Arthur Frederick Bush, aged 80, a Tetired carpenter, of Blenheim. The medical evidence was thal deceased died from pneumonia and heart failure, associated with shock resulting from an accident to the Main Trunk express near Paraparauinu on August 30. The Coroner said he was interested to hear the evidence of William Howell, a farmer, who attempted to stop the train, but who was indisposed, and will not be available until early next month. His evidence, though interestingi would; not, however, affect his. opinion that neither the Department nor the driver of the train had been in any way negligent. Driver Wilsher, in the course of liis evidence, said that visibility was bad owing to the driving wind and rain. He saw the slip when rounding the bend. It was a train length away, and the train was going at the speed of about 45 miles an hour. He immediately shut off steam, and applied the emergency brakes. The distance was too short in which to stop tlip train. No departure was made from the usual vigilance when driving a train.. Had the slip occurred on a straight portion of the road it could have been avoided, because of the look-out he was keeping. He did not see a man running across the paddock in the endeavour to stop the train. Had the man been on the railway* he could have seen him, as his whole attention was centred on the line. He had been familiar with the line for 25 .years. It was not a place where a slip was to he expected.