RISKY RAILWAY TRAFFIC

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 307, 28 December 1922, Page 6

RISKY RAILWAY TRAFFIC

ON ROTORUA UXE. WAS IT SAFE? (By TelejTaph.—Own Correspondent.) ROTORUA, this day.

The running of the express train to Rotorua on Saturday last hat come in for severe comment among railway men and the passengers on that express (?). It arrived two hours late at its destination and this was caused largely hy iv great length, 21 carriages, etc.." leaving Auckland and 19, etc., leaving Puteruru for Rotorua. This great traia and its attendant weight, some 4.10 tons, required three engines to drsg it up the Mamaku bank, unique and contrary to all railway practice in th« world, both for convenience to patiengers and also their safety, for if anything had gone wrong, the enginedriver could not have communicated with the guard, while that official could not check his irain by reason of passengers sitting everywhere, even on the platforms. But the most serious phase was allowing the train to go down the other side of Mamaku into Rotorua, which I understand, is against the Department's own regulation, viz., that r.o passenger train over 300 tons is to go down at one time. If the slightest thing goes wrong with the Weetinghotise brake (and this has occurredi one shudders to think what would have happened! Discussing this matter with expert men the Auckland "Star" representative was informed that the express should hare been run in two sections all the way. This would have made for economical running, it would have ei»ved a lot of overtime at the Rotorua end, and, above all, would have made for safe running ac far as it is humanly possible.

Another matter which calls for attention is the running, or lack of running, a night excursion train to Rotorua for the Christmas holidays. This could be put right this week. A train leaving on Saturday evening would enable numbers to have the New Year in Rotorua and the Railway Department add to its takings.