DRIVER’S ACCOUNT OF ACCIDENT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22435, 23 June 1938, Page 12

DRIVER’S ACCOUNT OF ACCIDENT

Ratana Railway Inquiry FOG AT TIME OF DERAILMENT Speed Given As 25 Miles An Hour (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 22. Giving evidence to-day before the Board of Inquiry investigating the Rctana railway disaster, the driver, E. Percival, said he encountered fog on the Ratana flat, and could not see more than a chain ahead. He did not see the curve radius-board, or the speed-board near the sixchain curve where the derailment occurred; but was aware of the speed restriction, and brought the train down to 25 miles an hour. When he applied the brakes, the driver said, he could see nothing but fog. He left the brakes on for a moment, and the accident happened within a second of their being released. He said he was familiar with the track; but his fireman had not previously been over the Palmerston North-Wanganui section. The driver was called by the board, and started his evidence this afternoon. Because he has not yet fully recovered from his injuries, tne inquiry was adjourned earlier than usual, and will be resumed at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow. The cross-examin-ation of Percival was begun before the adjournment. Possibility of Obstruction Mr G. G. G. Watson, representing the New Zealand Locomotive Engineers’, Firemen’s and Cleaners’ Association and also the driver of the train, continued his cross-examination of Reginald John Gard, designing engineer of tne locomotive biancn. Mr Watson referred to a departmental record showing the number of obstructions placed on New Zealand railway lines between September, 1932, and March 1938. “Some of these obstructions appear to be childish pranks; others deliberate attempts to wreck trains, said counsel. “Having regard to this long list, and having in mind previous attempts to derail trains in the same locality in recent years, don’t you think there is a possibility of an obstruction having been placed on the line?’’ Witness; I would not eliminate that possibility. Percy Roy Angus, locomotive superintendent. cross-examined by Mr Watson, described the eyesight test for engine crews. The test, he said, was very rigorous. “The driver, Percival, has had long service with the department,” said witness. “He is classified as a firstgrade man. He has quite a good record, and is highly regarded by his superior officers as being a first-class man on the engine, and suitable in every way for running important express trains.” A description of the excursion train’s journey from Wellington to the pointof derailment was given by the driver, Edward Clifton Percival, who said he had been off duty approximately 24 hours before booking on at 8.40 p.m. on March 25. He was familiar with the line between Wellington and Palmerston North, and on two occasions last year drove trains on the Palmerston North-Taihape section. About eight years had elapsed since he had last been over the Marton-Wanganui section. He had no doubt about his familiarity with the Marton-Wanganui portion of the trip, and raised no objections to driving the special on the night of March 25. The train lost six or seven minutes at Koputaroa, because of insufficient water being available at the watering tank. The fireman. Ken Millar, was not familiar with the road from Palmerston North onward. Patches of Fog Patches o£ fog were first' encountered at Greatford; but there was no fog at Marton, where the train stopped for water. "The weather was clear leaving Marton,” said witness, “and we had a good run to the north side of Bonny Glen. I shut off there, and we drifted down to Turakina, passing through the station at about 30 miles an hour. We climbed the Turakina bank at 20 miles an hour, and did not encounter rain or fog in that locality. We went down the straight at about 40 miles an hour. At Ratana station I shut off. South of Ratana there is a slight down grade, and the impetus carried the engine on with little reduction in speed.” The chairman (Sir Francis Frazer): Have you any recollection of noticing the speed-board or the curve radiusboard at 130 miles 70 chains? Witness: No.

“About half a mile after passing Ratana,” witness added, “I said to my mate that there was a speed restriction coming, and told him to keep his eye skinned for it. I made this remark because the fog was then coming up very thick. We went further on, and the fog was still thick. I don’t think we could see more than a chain ahead. By this time the speed had dropped down to 37 or 38 miles an hour. I reckoned we were getting near the speed restriction, so I made an application of the brakes, and reduced

speed down to about 25 miles an hour. I left the brakes on for two or three seconds, until the train was down to what I considered the right speed, and then released the brakes. The accident happened within a second after that. Saw Nothing But Fog The chairman; What could you see at the time you put on the brakes. Witness: Nothing but fog. You said you could see objects about a chain away. Do you think, if you had been looking at the spot, you could have seen the curve radius-board? —I might have seen it; but in. all probability my mate spoke to me at the time. Your attention might have been diverted in giving some instruction to the fireman? —Yes. “I just felt a bump,” the driver added, “then I was thrown off my seat, and twisted right round'. The remark in my statement that I applied the emergency brakes would be wrong. I remembered being thrown round in the cab into such a position that I could not have applied the emergency brakes. I could have only released them.” His left arm was scalded, he said. The palm of his left hand was the only part not touched. Seated at the cab window, he would have used his left hand to apply the emergency brakes. After being thrown round, something hit him on the head, and he lost consciousness.

Cross-examined by Mr Watson, witness described the injuries he had received in the accident. Until two weeks ago he was a patient in the Wanganui Hospital, and was now an out-patient of the Wellington Hospital. As yet he was not able to concentrate on anything for any length of time. A doctor agreed that his condition was improving. He joined the railway service in 1904, and from 1914 to 1918 was driving and firing intermittently. For the last 18 years he had been driving continuously, and held a first-grade ticket. The Wellington-Palmerston North route was the section he was most familiar with. For the last 10 years he had been attached to the Wellington locomotive depot. Drove the “Ghost” Train Mr Watson; There has been no evidence about drink in the cab, but did you have any liquor before the trip, or your fireman, as far as you know? Witness: No. Was any liquor consumed at any stage of the journey?— No. At any stage during the running of the train was anybody in the cab other than yourself and the\ fireman?— No. You said last time you were over the Marton-Wanganui section was when driving the ghost train, which you, called the Wellington-New Plymouth night express?— Yes. The ghost train ran for about three months in 1930. So far as I can remember, I drove it on four trips. They were the last occasions I drove over that line. My mate had never been over the Palmerston North-Wanganui section. Is it a handicap for a driver of an express train to have a fireman who has never been over the run before? —Yes. You have to tell him where to attend to his fire, so that he will have enough steam to climb a bank, or shut off so he won’t be blowing off steam on a down grade. You also have to tell him where to fix the tablet. and where to look out for signals. You were in no way tired or exhausted, or sleepless when you took the special out?— No. Conversation with Passenger

Mr Watson referred to previous evidence, in which it was stated that the driver spoke to a passenger at Palmerston North, and said he would show what could be done with an AB engine. Witness said a passenger, spoke to him at that station, and asked if the locomotive was running a bit warm. “I said she was a bit warm, but I made no remark about the speed,” said witness. The chairman: I think that cleans it all up. Mr Watson: There have been various suggestions made that shortly before the smash you whistled for the brakes. Is there anything in that? Witness: No.