DERAILED TRAIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 40, 27 November 1940, Page 3

DERAILED TRAIN

„ OPENING OF INQUIRY. RAILWAY EMPLOYEES’ EVIDENCE (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, November 26. Exhaustive evidence to be submitted to the Board of Inquiry into the derailment of the Limited Express near Mercer on the morning of October 28, when an engine-driver and fireman were killed, was outlined to-day when the board commenced its. sitting. Sir Francis Fraser presided, with Professor S. E. Lamb and Mr F. W Furkert. Messrs V. IT. Meredith and I. Thomas represented the Minister for Railways and the Railway Department, and G. P. Finlay and A. E. Johnston watched the interests of the Enginedrivers’ and Firemen’3 and Cleaners’ Association. Mr L. Mcllvride, general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, appeared on behalf of his union. Mr P. G. Hars.-iess, of Hamilton, appeared for the widow of the fireman, and Mr N. S. Johnson for the widow of the engine-driver. Counsel were also present for various passengers who were injured. The- chairman said the report was to be in the hands of the Minister before December 21. He said that through the courtesy of the Superintendent of Police in Auckland, the board had been allowed to peruse passengers’ statements and ,had made a selection of those which appeared to be useful as evidence. It proposed, however, to adjourn its sitting this afternoon to enable counsel to have the same advantage. Department’s Attitude.

“My instructions from the Minister apd the department are to give all assistance to this Board of Inquiry,” said Mr Meredith. “Any officers of the department may be called if desired. ” He detailed the technical evidence that would be given, adding that there was unfortunately only one eyewitness—a person who was walking along the line at the time. Various calculations as to the rolling stock, the condition of the permanent way, the stability of the type of locomotive concerned, its balance at various speeds, and the amount of cant that would be necessary on tracks before it would overturn, would be dealt with. “My department wishes it to be known to the public that any person who feels he or she can give useful evidence may be heard at the inquiry,” Mr Meredith added.

He conyeyed the thanks of the Minister and the department to the passengers on the express who showed courage and to those near the accident who rendered immediate aid. “It is no part of our instructions to shield any officers of the department. Our purpose is to present all the facts frankly and candidly so that the board can arrive at a finding that will, if possible, prevent a recurrence of such a disaster* ?? The first witness, A. L, Smith, transportation manager for the Railway Department, stationed at Wellington, gave details of the time-tables for the North Island main line and branches. To Mr Finlay, witness said there had been no alteration in the schedule of running time between Frankton Junction and Mercer since 1937. Over that length of line it would be looked upon as a “tight” schedule. If the drivers suggested that the travelling time from Wellington to Auckland should he extended by half an hour in order to ensure greater safety, witness would say l there was no need for that. He thought they were working within the safety limits. To Mr Oran, appearing for an injured passenger, witness said that by the phrase “tight schedule” he meant that not very, much slack would he allowed. A driver would not be able

to pick up very much time if lie was running behind schedule, without exceeding the specified speed limit. J. H Williams, train conti’ol operator at Auckland on the morning of the accident, said he noticed that the Limited express was making a faster trip than usual. He would not say that it was making an exceptionally fast run, however. J. D. Leahy, guard on the express, said the train was 12 minutes late in leaving Frankton. Going through both Ngaruawahia and Ohinewai witness noticed that the train seemed to hit the “turn out” rather suddenly, and ho concluded that the train was travelling fast at theso points. Apart from that, the speed on the run to Mercer did not appear to he too great, and caused him no concern. There was no comment from the passengers regarding the train’s speed. Witness considered McCubbin a very capable driver.

-C. Sweeney, a farmer, of Mercer, said lie was near the Mercer pumping • station, and saw the train come round 1 a bend about a quarter of a mile away. He thought it was travelling “pretty fast.’’, L, J. O’Keefe, a porter at Horotiu, said lie noticed nothing unusual in the speed of the express as it passed through Horotiu. J. J. Dixon, a clerk, said that during his four years at the Ngaruawahia station he had never seen a train go 'through. the station faster than the Limited express that morning. H. Edwards, a clerk at Taupiri station, • said he had seen trains travelling as fast but not faster through Taupiri than the express that morning. “I have rarely seen a train go so fast,” said W. W. Bennett, a ganger stationed at Taupiri. J. A. Wallis, a- ganger at Huntly, sf?id he Was with a porter, Graham, on the Huntly station when the express approached. “When the train was coming round the curve I mentioned to Graham that something would happen one morning if she came in at that pace”’ he said. “She was travelling very fast to what I have seen other trains travelling. I did not know who was driving the train. Graham said to me as she passed: That’s McCubbin. He will get killed one of these days.’ The train, was steaming all the way as she went through the station. She was under power. I had to go toward Taupiri,” lie said. “I got back about 10 o’clock, and Graham, said: “It has happened ; 688 (the express) is off the line, and McCubbin is dead.’ ”

Witness said the first thing that drew his attention to the train was the speed at which it came round the curve. He had seen; quite a number come round there, but nevter one so quickly. Witness said he did not understand front Graham’s remarks that McCubbin had a. reputation for speeding. He personally had not heard anything about McCubbin. The inquiry will be resumed ’ tomorrow.