BRAKES AND SIGNALS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 188, 4 May 1908, Page 7

BRAKES AND SIGNALS.

DEFECTIVE. MORE TfiSTS OF THE BENDIGO TRAIN. ■ .RV TELEGRArn—PREBS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT -, • ?• Tjlolbourne, May 2. The tests of the trains that collided ■ at' Braybrook showed that the failure' of the brakes to act on the, second engine 'of the Bendigo train wa)s . due .to leakage in , the package' of the cylinder gland, though this effect on tho engine itself would not prevent the application of the brakes on the .rest of the train, provided the individual gear on the. vehicles was in . good condition.- ; The evidence of .the Crown's expert was that the brake on the second engine or the Bendigo train' was defective and failed to grip, whue the brakes on. the 'mail van ,and one carriage were utterly-useless. Tho first engine's brake was effective, but -an obstruction was found in the hose connection between it and the tender. Tho .expert remarked' that as an express train.it was. a disgrace to the road. j MURRURUNDI COLLISION. ' BAD MANIPULATION OR FAULTY ' ' . SIGNAL? . - : ' ' Sydney, May 2. The stationmaster at Murrurundi gave evidence at the inquiry that he had no confidence in the semaphore signal, and was'very careful in handling it. It had failed many times previously to act perfectly. Tho district' superintendent deposed that he examined tho signal after the' accident . and found that, through faulty manipula-. tion, tho arm : would not go back to "danger." The Railway Department (added the district superintendent) had hundreds of similar signals, and was quite satisfied with their working. ' / The evidence of the signalman l on. duty at the time the Murrurundi collision showed that the seniaphore failed to return; to its proper position; when the lever was released. He had demonstrated this to ; the superintendent, and had also called the stationmaster s attention to the faulty working of the signals. . .