RAIL-CAR BLOWN OFF LINE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21909, 9 October 1936, Page 12

RAIL-CAR BLOWN OFF LINE

PASSENGERS INJURED

ACCIDENT ON RIMUTAKA INCLINE

GALE OF GREAT VIOLENCE

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELE OR Ail. I

CARTERTON, October 8.

A heavy north-west gale raging at Featherston this morning, blew a railcar off the line 20 yards on the north side of the breakwind at Pigeon Bush. Three passengers were seriously hurt. One is suffering from a broken leg, another a broken arm, and the third a broken rib. Others were less seriously hurt, and many suffered cuts from flying glass. The. gale struck the car all the way from Carterton, but though the car rocked considerably there was no thought of it overturning. Approaching the breakwind a tremendous gust burst on the car, which reeled over and fell off the line. The passengers were taken back to Featherston, where the injured received medical attention. A second rail-car was delayed at Carterton, and the passengers were taken by bus to Featherston, where the journey over the hill was continued by steam train.

The Injured

The persons seriously injured are:— Miss G. Knott, of Kuripuni street, Masterton, fractured ribs - and right arm. Mrs J. Holme, of Short street, Masterton, fractured right arm and ribs. Mrs L. Collett, Masterton, fractured ribs. Others less seriously hurt are;— Mr A. S. Humber, South road, Masterton, cuts on the left leg. Miss Biela Phillips, of 103 Bentley street, Masterton, right middle finger injured. Mrs A. H. Bull, of Greytown, cuts on the face. • Mrs M. Moss, of 20 Walton avenue, Masterton, cut on the neck and face. Miss P. Hedley, of Gordon street, Lansdowne, cut on the nose. There were 26 passengers in all, and most of those uninjured continued their journey to Wellington in a steam train. Gale of 80 Miles an Hour The rail-car Mamari left Masterton for Wellington at 7.50 a.m., and reached Featherston at 8.28. Three minutes later just as the Mamari was on the straight stretch of line half a mile from Pigeon Bush, a gale, which reached a maximum velocity of more than 80 miles an hour, struck it with a particularly strong gust 30 yards from the breakwind which extends for a quarter of a mile towards Pigeon Bush. The front of the car narrowly missed a telegraph pole which, however, was shorn off by the side of the vehicle. Every window on the lefthand side of the car was shattered, while damage was sustained to the undercarriage and the body. The - passengers were thrown about. The guard, Seagar, assisted the injured, and then went to a nearby telephone, and a doctor was soon on the scene. The passengers had to be extricated from the damaged car through the driver’s entrance, and they were taken to Featherston by cars. The driver of the rail-car, V. Schroder, suffered a few cuts from flying glass when his compartment struck an iron pole. The rail-car was not badly smashed. The injured were conveyed to Dr. Sharp's private hospital, Featherston. Those least injured were returned to their homes. The scene of the accident is near the spot where a steam train, with several carriages, was blown off the rails 50 years ago.

CAUSE OF ACCIDENT

GENERAL MANAGER’S STATEMENT

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, October 8,

Discussing the accident, the General Manager of Railways, Mr G. H. Mackley, said the cause of the accident was the velocity of the wind, which had come in an unexpectedly sudden gust. During a gale which blew with exceptional severity, on the trial run some time ago. note was taken of the effect of the wind on the car’s performance and construction, and the Mamarl was adjusted to make allowances for a severe gale by placing the centre of gravity low in the structure. This point in the run from Masterton was a dangerous one, and the desirability of lengthening the breakwind was being investigated. - The rail-car would be taken to the workshops for adjustment and repair. Weight for weight, the. car was designed to stand up to a greater pressure of wind than ah ordinary railway carriage.

Mr Mackley referred to the dispatch with which the special train was sent from Cross Creek with ambulance equipment. The accident occurred at 0.35 and the special train left at 8.59.

TO PREVENT SIMILAR ACCIDENTS

USE OF ANEMOMETER TO BE CONSIDERED

(TRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.; WELLINGTON. October 8. "The gale was not unlike that in Manawatu last February, except that It was much more localised,” said Mr G. H, Mackley, General Manager of Railways, in describing the accident to the rail-car. “During the Manawatu gale, two carriages on the excursion train travelling from Palmerston North to Wellington were blown over at Makerua, as a result of which precautions were taken to erect an anemometer so that in the event of the anemometer showing a wind force of a certain velocity, steps would be taken to cancel the running of trains for the time being. “Whether such an experiment would be useful in places in the Walrarapa will be considered. The whole position,” Mr Mackley said, “will have to be considered in the light of to-day’s experience, and the travelling public can rest assured that no stone will be left unturned to make the passage of trains and rail-cars as safe as human experience and knowledge can make it”

The rail-car has been placed upright, but as the wind at 7 p.m. was almost as severe as at 7 a.m., the placing of the car on the line has not yet been attempted.