DERAILMENT ON HUTT LINE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24116, 27 November 1943, Page 4

DERAILMENT ON HUTT LINE

INQUIRY ADJOURNED TO DECEMBER 13 FURTHER INFORMATION WANTED BY BOARD (P.A.) WELLINGTON, November 26. The inquiry into the derailment of a train from Upper Hutt on November 8 which resulted in the death of three person? and injury to 20 others, has been adjourned to December 13. The board of inquiry consists of Sir Francis Frazer (chairman) and Messrs John Wood and H. L. Cole. . ~ In intimating that the inquiry would be adjourned, the chairman said that in the meantime the board desired information on two points to be obtained for submission to it. The board would like an investigation made of tne formation in the vicinity of the derailment and, as it was not satisfied with the results of the weighing of .the locomotive, it would like further weighings made and perhaps further tests in the presence of the two technical members. Mr W. H. Cunningham, with him Major F. W. Aickin, represented the Railways Department, and Mr G. G. G. Watson, with him Mr T. H. Stephenson, represented the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen's, and Cleaners’ Association, and the driver of the train (James Bain), and the fireman (A. E. Sutton), Mr L. Mcllvride Represented the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and Mr E. T. C. Hogg the relalives of Mrs Ngaire Pearl Rowe, a victim of the accident. When the inquiry was resumed to-day, Dr. D. C. Mazengarb said he had been instructed to appear for P. G. Thomas, another of the victims, and for several of those who had been seriously injured. Inspection of Track Frank Leineweber, permanent _ way inspector, was recalled and questioned as to instructions he had issued about work needing attention Mr Watson; Two engine-drivers have given evidence that in the whole of the week preceding the derailment there was something the matter with the track, practically at the scene of the accident sufficient to make an engine lurch both coming and going. Did you discover anything in the track to account for the lurch?— Nothing at all. In fact the very day I made the inspection I rode back on the engine. If I had found anything I would have got a gang on to the job immediately. The chairman said the board had received a letter from the daughter of a deceased ganger on that section of the line as follows: "My father said that particular place was always the worry of his length. He always maintained a serious accident would occur there as it had a tendency to sink and he always said the line should be shifted out.” “That, of course, is not evidence, said the chairman, “but I want you to say whether you noticed anything in the nature of a tendency to sink. Witness; Nothing at all, only the ordinary, gradual sinking you might expect on any section of track. Examination by Engineer G. J. Bertinshaw, chief engigeer of railways, said that after the receipt of a letter from the Engine Drivers’, Firemen’s, and Cleaners’ Association, he made an inspection of the WellingtonUpper Hutt line with the district engineer. Major Aickin: Would you consider a letter in those terms a serious one?— Very serious indeed. Witness said they left Wellington at 8 a.m. on a motor jigger and reached Upper Hutt about 6 p.m. They travelled slowly, stopping on practicably all curves and at many other places and walking altogether eight or nine miles. Irregularities could be felt on the motor jigger, but they did not depend on that alone. They depended on eyesight and walking over the places witness considered needed close inspection. No bumps were felt on the trip. On September 15 he reported to the general manager on the results of the inspection, stating that he was satisfied there was no justification for taking the drastic action suggested by the Engine Drivers’, Firemen’s, and Cleaners’ Association, and that the track was quite safe at authorised rates of speed. Witness said he had not the slightest hesitation in coming to the opinion that the first derailment on August 20 was in no way due to the condition of the track. Actually it was due to a defect in a casting underneath the engine He formed the same opinion of the state of the track after the accident of November 8. Seven witnesses who were in various carriages of the wrecked train told of incidents of the accident. All said the speed of the train was normal.