THE SYDENHAM DISASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 50, 28 February 1901, Page 5

THE SYDENHAM DISASTER.

SYDNEY, February 27,

At the inquest the signalmen's records showed that the wrecked train left Sydney on time, and passed Sydenham Junction between a minute and a minute and a half ahead of time. The distance from Redfern station to Sydenham Junction was three miles and 21 chains. The traffic inspector admitted that if the signalmen's records were true, the train passed Sydenham at the rate of 60 miles an hour. A passenger in the train said he bad been a traveller in England in trains) going 60 miles an hour. 'This one was going -faster than any he ever saw. Another witness, who arrived on the scene shortly after the accident, swore that he noticed that the fish plate had opened, and that the line was slightly out of position where the train ran off. The fish plate was held by oue instead of four bolts. On the following Sunday, accompanied by a policeman, he visited the spot, and. found the sleepers and fish plates replaced. Mr Carruthers, a member of the Assembly, deposed that he travelled by the following train, which arrived a few minutes after the accident. He saw a fractured fish plate within a rail's length of where the train ran off. With others he visited the spot on the following Monday, but everything that could locate the spot had been removed and repairs made. The railway officials admitted that certain repairs had been made, but not till after the coroner and jury had seen the spot where the accident occurred.