STRUCK BY TRAIN.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19986, 22 July 1930, Page 6

STRUCK BY TRAIN.

ENGINE-DRIVER'S DEATH.

LINWOOD RAILWAY YARD TRAGEDY. When crossing the railway lines near the Lin wood station on Juno 27th, William Henry Irwin, a railway enginedriver, aged 40 years, of 30 Opawa road, was struck by an electric train travelling towards the City, and subsequently died on his way to the hospital. An inquest was held yesterday before Mr E. D. Mosley, Coroner. It was conducted by Sergeant A.. Leckie on behalf of the police. Mr li. L. Gibson, Outdoor Assistant Traiuc Manager, represented the Railway Department, and Mr \V. S. E. Moylo was present on behalf of the Amalgamated Society of llailway Servants.

Arthur Peter Williams, enginedr»voi employed by the Railway Department, said that on June 27th he was driving an electric engine on the Lyttelton-Clu-istchurch run. The train left Lyttelton about 6.25 p.m., and approached York street, near tho Liuwood railway station, about 6.40. He slackened speed to about 20 miles per hour, and sounded his whistle at the place. When the engino was about ten feet from the gate he saw a man a yard or so from the line. The man appeared to come from the gate leading from York street, and he was walking straight across tho line towards the locomotive sheds. He appeared to make a long jump to cross the track, and witness applied the brakes. Irwin was right in front of the engine when struck, and he was thrown to the right side, between tho two seta of rails. After the engine hit the man the train travelled a distance of about ten yards. The weight of the train was about 120 tens, and the stop was a prompt one. Running back to where the man was lying, he found him to be unconscious and bleeding from tho mouth. Irwin was due to commence work at 6.80 that night, so that he was slightly late. It was a clear night, and the visibility was good, the lighting round the yard being satisfactory. Witness would consider that Irwin did not see the train, and th,j jump would indicate that he tho"<rht it was further awav than it really was. The liehts on the engine were splendid, and showed for a long way ahead. When two onsrine ll were approaching each other, tho headlights had to he inrned down, otherwise the drivers could see nothing. Access to Platform. To Mr Gibson: York street terminated at the boundary fence, and a small gate allowed passengers to reach the down-platform. He blew his whistle to warn tho passengers ou the platform at Linwood station. To Mr Moyle: He believed some of the locomotive staff used the small gate as an entrance to the yard. When crossing tho two sets of lines they were practically in tho locomotive yard. Mr Gibson: I don't think that is correct; they are well clear. Mr Moyle: I made sure by having a look at them. Irwin had used the gate for years, as did many of the employcas living in the south-east district. Wilson's road was too far out of the way. The Coioner: They take the cisk, but they have no more right to cross the lines there than I have. Mr Gibson: The gate is intended as an entrance to the down-platform. Williams said he had seen very few trespassers cross the line at the point, and only Irwin and ono other railwayman do* it. i

Mr Mosley: In England or one of the older countries there would be an underground approach to the sheds. The Coroner returned a verdict that Irwin's death was due to injuries and shock through being accidentally run into by an electric train.

"It is a great pity to see a man with about 21 years of service lose his liftin such a manner," he said. "I can't add any rider or make any recommendation. as it does not apnear to be a general way of reaching the sheds. It would be better if some warning notice was erected.'' Mr Movie said it would make it safer if a warning was put up for the public and the staff. Mr Moslev said that since Christmas there had been an undue number of accidents, but how to Drotect the public was a difficult problem.