THE RAILWAY DISASTER.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15289, 27 May 1915, Page 9

THE RAILWAY DISASTER.

EVIDENCE OF SIGNALMEN

FORGETFULNESS THE CAUSE

(By Cable—Prtss A_ ociation.—Copyright.) LONDON. May 2*3.

At the enquiry concerning tho Gretna railway disaster, Meecham, a .signalman at Quinton's Hill, testified that ho shunted tho local train to the up main line. Ho told Tinsley, another signalman, when tho latter relieved him, that the train had boon shunted.

Meecham stated that Tinsley, who had tiavelled by the local train, relieved him at 0.32 p.m. AVitness stayed in tho signal-box reading n newspaper. A fireman nnd a brakesman were also there. The first alarm was the troop train passing the stgnal-l>ox at forty miles an hour. The collision followed immediately. Meecham ran downstairs, and saw a iot of soldiers running about. lie rushed back to tho box and .sent telegrams for assistance.

Tinsley gave evidence that he jumped off the local train as it crossed to the up line, so he knew it had crosced. The collision occurred at CoO. Ho quite forgot about tho local tram after he jumped off the engine. There was only a minute's interval between the first and the second collision. Meecham put. down the signal to danger just before tho second collision, but it was too late to avert an accident. AA'ailaee, the driver of the local train, gave evidence that he -saw tho troop train two hundred yards uway, too.late for him to back. Ho jumped off tho engine and __ot under a goodtrain in tho siding. (Received May 26th, 11.55 p.m.) ' LONDON. May 26. The driver of the local train at Gretna attributed tho fire to gas escaping from tho cylinders.