TRAM SMASH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 241, 12 October 1942, Page 4

TRAM SMASH

MOTORMAN'S ORDEAL

BRAKES IN REAR CABIN

t Action taken by the motorman in tlie tram accident in Queen Street on October 1 is fully related in a report by the engineer and manager. Mr. A. E. Ford, presented to the Auckland Transport Board to-day Two men riding on a tram which was overtaken were seriously injured, and five women passengers were removed to the hospital casualty tyarcl. _ together with nine women of the W.A.A. Corps, who were on an army troop carrier which was overtut ned in a collision. All the women were discharged after receiving treatment, and all patients are making good recoveries except one. who returned to the hospital for treatment or. October 7.

Before reaching the compulsory stop at Myers Park the motorman states the report, had applied the track brake. The tram coasted down Queen Street from Karangahape Road on the track and air brakes at a speed of from 12 to 15 miles an hour. Before reaching the compulsory stop the motorman saw the troop carrier.

After describing the motorman's observations of the movements of the troop carrier, Mr. Ford relates that the motorman states that he applied his air emergency brake, as he could see there was danger of a collision. Hkld On tttifp Grade "The tram did not respond fully to the emergency brake application," states the report, "as it skidded on the steep down grade of 1 in 10.82. The motorman then set to work to apply fully the hand brake, but the distance was too short to avoid a collision."

The front right side of the motorman s cabin struck the rear right side of the carrier. The collision smashed in the cabin and damaged the brake controls. The troop carrier, which had aboard 16 young women attached to the W.A.A. Corps, was capsized by the impact. The tram came to a standstill close to the Myers Park stop. The motorman was knocked down, his cabin being smashed in. He suffered a severe blow on the right thigh and a minor scalp cut. When the tram stopped, the motorman alighted, having extricated himself from the wreckage, and next moment the tram began to move off down the gradr;.

Boarding the front platform, the motorman went through to the rear cabin, as the front brakes were out of order, and the electrical gear appeared to be damaged. Unfortunately, on his way to the rear cabin, where the hand brake controls would be in good order, he was delayed by a congestion of passengers at the rear entrance, and the tram rapidly reached a high speed. "The tram had passed the Town Hall when the motorman was able to get into the rear cabin and apply the ratchet brake. In this he was assisted by a naval rating," the report continues.

Car Ahead Overtaken

"Before the tram crossed Wellesley Street intersection, an inward tram, bound for the railway station, turned into Queen Street and proceeded slowly ahead. It had travelled only about three chains when the damaged tram overtook it and collided with the rear, and both trams came to a standstill. When this occurred, the tram was nearly under control, in consequence of the brakes having been applied in the rear cabin. The front platform of the damaged tram over-rode the rear platform of the station-bound tram, causing extensive damage to both trams.

Mr. Ford states that there was a minimum amount of congestion or inconvenience to the public, and points out in the final paragraph of his report that collisions and traffic accidents are inescapable, Fortunately, he says, these accidents are seldom of a serious nature, although the tramway services are operated on hilly routes. The danger of a tram getting out of control on grades is safeguarded by maintaining efficiently the well-designed equipment by a staff of competent depot employees and motor men and conductors, all of whom are specially selected and trained, particularly in safety operations.

Before entering Queen Street there were still a few standing passengers, including two or three on the front platform.

OUT OF HOSPITAL

A member of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, Miss M. Bradlev, who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on October 7 suffering from injuries received in the Queen Street tramcar accident on October 1. ha? since been discharged.