TRAIN TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 5, 7 January 1938, Page 9

TRAIN TRAGEDY.

ENGINE DRIVER LOST.

KNOCKED INTO STREAM.

LEANING FROM LOCOMOTIVE,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

GRE YMOUTH, Thursday,

A railway locomotive driver, Mr. Joseph Mowley Mosley, aged 38, was killed at 1.45 p.m. to-day while taking a goods train frora Runanga to Greymouth. Nobody witnessed the fatality, but four maintenance men saw Mr. Mosley leaning over the side of the engine cab while the train approached a bridge near the camp, station, over two miles from Greymouth.

Mr. Mosley waa endeavouring to ascertain the ca-use of a driving rod knocking and was facing away from the bridge. A maintenance man called to him, but was unable to attract his attention. It is surmised that he was still leaning out at the bridge and was struck by the abutment and knocked into a stream, which was swollen by recent rain.

The fireman, Mr. R. Thomas, who looking out on hie side of the cabin, did not see the accident, but he heard the call of the maintenance men and at once stopped the train, which consisted of 15 wagons and a van.

The maintenance men on coming to the stream found it discoloured. One man went into the water, but was unable to find any trace of Mr. Mosley, whose cap was seen floating away. Dragging was unsuccessful.

The fireman and the guard brought the train to Greymouth. Mr. Mosley leaves a wife and two young sons. He was a former representative Coast footballer.