THE MARTON COLLISION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 28, 3 February 1909, Page 8

THE MARTON COLLISION.

* BRAKES AND THE SHAKE. The Post's travelling correspondent, who was on the mail train last night when it was checked at Marton by a shunting engine, writes that the express came on around the bend at the approach to the station, in deference to a signal, "all clear." 'Actually the shunting engine, with the luggage vans from the Main Trunk train, was at that time approaching the line. The porter who dropped the signal said that he did not see the shunters getting into a position oi danger, and the driver of this engine did not see the signal given for the express. It was mentioned by competent authorities after the accident that the system of interlocking points was baidly needed at Marton, lor the curve at the approach to the station did not give drivers a fair view of the track ahead. A Wellington citizen, who was also on the express, said that he was surprised at the fact that the jar of the Westinghouse brakes and the shock from the impact with the shunting engine occurred almost simultaneously. The express train parted in the middle when the engines crashed togethed. Then the front carriage of the rear half charged into the carriage 'ahead, and they both suffered slight damage. The two engines at the front ot the express were locked together, and the front one, which was derailed, climbed half over the " shunter." It looked as if the monsters had been attempting to play leap-frog. The cow-catchers were crumpled up, and rods were twisted and plates were buckled, but the department says that a lew days will repair the broken " bones " and bring general healing to the stricken locomotives. The sharp jolt and the sounds of crashing, the sudden descent of bags and books from the racks on to .the heads of the people, gave them an intense curiosity to know what was likely to happen in the next instant. They flew out of the train to mutually report progress, and discovered happily that nothing worse than minor cuts and bruises had befallen anybody, and the discussions soon passed on to the ' ' what might have been if it had been night — and no Blucher." Waiters in charge of the dining-car I had their preparations for a meal nicely advanced, but swiftly the tables were , cleared. The shake tossed plates, cups, cruets, dishes, and other appurtenances in all directions, and one table was wrenched from the side of the carriage. Among the passengers were the Russian boy musicians, the Cherniavskis. The youngest, Michel, faithful to his old tondness for now thrills, was sitting on a platform, taking in the countryside. When the shunting engine got in the track of the express Michel was thrown out to the ground, but came up smiling to assure his anxious brothers that he had no injuries, but one exciting memory to add to many others in his lively mind. A departmental enquiry into the cause of the accident has been ordered.