SAFETY MARGIN.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18569, 19 December 1925, Page 16

SAFETY MARGIN.

ON LIMITED EXPRESSES. [PRIME MINISTER'S ASSURANCE. (rRESS ASSOCIATION TELSGBAH.) WELLINGTON, December IS. In a statement to the Press, the Primo Minister, in his capacity as Minister of Railways, commenting on the delay which occurred last Monday to the up night Limited near Levin through a fractured tyre on the wheel of tho guard's van, drew attention to tho fact which does not appear to be generally known, namely, that in. the reorganisation of timetables recently undertaken, the extreme margin of safety provided for railway operations and rolling stock has not been reduoed or altered in any way, either for wheel tyres or speeds on the Main Trunk train. "The same speed maxima over variI ous portions, of the line between Wel- ! lington and Auckland apply to Limited trains as to ordinary expresses," said Mr Coates. "There has even been a reduction under tho November timetable in the number of vehicles on the Limited the total now being eight, and this also facilitates a better distribution of time by allowing improved running on the up grades. "Regarding wheel tyres, the standard practice followed is tq, fit all new tyres to Main Trunk passenger rolling Stock and main lino passenger cars, from which they arc removed as they wear down, being placed under less important vehicles, until, having reached a certain minimum thickness, the worn tvres are totally discarded. Tho van in question had been in service less than a month, and the thickness of the wheel tyre was considerably in excess even of that required, by tho standard safety margin. The manufacturers, a reputable English firm, will, of course, bo communicated with, and any other necessary action taken to provide to the utmost against the possibility of a similar accident recurring. Besides the regular examination of the Main Trunk rolling stock at terminal stations, constant vigilance is exercised at intermediate stopping places by train examiners to detect any flaws, and express services are further protected by a special typo of coupling link made of extremely strong metal, which tends, in the case "of mishap, to keep the vehicles on the rail. In this case the guard noticed the unevenness immediately the tyre slipped, and applied the Westinghouse brake from the van, an action which, besides drawing tho driver's attention and setting the brake in motion, tended to minimise the possibility of any harm arising from the mishap. The train was running on time, and travelling quite at ordinary rate. From reports received it also appears that the 'passengers accepted the resulting delay in the best possible spirit, and were very helpful with assistance during an emergency.