GOODS TRAINS IN MISHAP

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26857, 9 October 1952, Page 10

GOODS TRAINS IN MISHAP

ONE FAILS TO TAKE LOOP DAMAGE TO BOTH ENGINES (From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, October 8. Two goods trains were involved in an accident in the Brunnerton station yard at 5.35 a.m. to-day. The perishable goods train from Christchurch was stationary in the yard, and was struck by a Grey mouth-Westport train. There was a fair amount of damage, the engines being locked together by the impact. An unoccupied carriage immediately behind the engine on the perishable train was damaged, many of the windows being shattered. There were no passengers in either train. Two railwaymen, the guard on the Westport train, Mr G. Murtha, of Greymouth, and the officer in charge of the Brunnerton station, Mr J. Kenney, were slightly injured. Neither was admitted to hospital.

The Westport-bound train was to have taken the loop in the railway yard, but instead continued on the main line, which was occupied by the train from Christchurch. The reason for the failure of the Westport train to enter the loop is the subject of departmental investigations, which have already commenced. There was some damage to the front portions of the engines, which would have been greater but for the fact that the Westport train was slowing down. Mr Kenney was on the carriage platform of the stationary train when the impact occurred, and he was thrown heavily against the front of the carriage. The Westport train guard was also thrown against a wall. Both engine crews escaped injury. On the engine of the Christchurch train were Messrs N. H. Lawson (driver) and C. P. Bowden (fireman), and on the other engine, Messrs R. E. Duggan (driver) and A. J. Gillespie (fireman).

Though the main line was blocked for some hours until the damaged engines had been removed, thejre was no delay to other traffic on the Midland line or the Grey Valley services, as the Brunner station loop was available. A breakdown gang was dispatched from Greymouth early this morning, and the main line was cleared for traffic this afternoon. There was no serious damage to the track.