RAILWAYMAN’S DEATH

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26491, 4 August 1951, Page 8

RAILWAYMAN’S DEATH

STRUCK BY ELECTRIC TRAIN

EVIDENCE GIVEN AT INQUEST (Neto Zealand Press Association) - WELLINGTON, August 3. From my experience, I have found that electric units can approach and catch men unawares, particularly, if a man is engrossed in his work.” ftis was said bv Mr James Redmond, a railway electrician, when giving evidence at an inquest to-day, into the death of Henry Herbert Todd, a tailway electrician, who was killed when struck by an electric unit outside No. 2 tunnel at Ngahauranga on May 5. Mr Arthur Barclay, who was seriin the accident, was repR C. Polglase, driver df the Unit, 5*“ approaching the portal of the tunnel and did not see the men Who were working on the line until he jras 80 yards from them. He sounded the horn ahd applied the emergency brakes, but the men Were unaware of his approach until he was almost on them. He attributed thia tb a goods train coming out of the tunnel at the same time. The noise of the Waggon« probably deadened the sound of the approach of the unit, blit would not deaden the noise of the horn. He said He was travelling about 48 miles an hour at the time. J_. T. Ayrton, the drivet of the goods tram, said he did not have time to signal Polglase, but sounded his own Pp’Ti “X ® n attempt tb warn the mtn of their danger. . The Coroher (Mfr W. G. Mtellish) said the story spoke for itself. The men ° bviou sly been caught unawares. ™ d hSd died W MUI -