TRAINS COLLIDE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 110, 5 November 1937, Page 10

TRAINS COLLIDE

SMASH NEAR AUCKLAND

ONE OUT OF CONTROL

SEVERAL INJURED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, November 4.

Three persons were injured and the front portions of two .trains reduced to a mass of tangled debris, when they met in a violent head-on collision near the Psrnell overbridge, about 400 yards south of Auckland station, at 9.17 tonight. The accident occurred when a goods train returning to Auckland from Newmarket became, out of control and crashed into a mixed goods and passenger 'rain outward bound for Henderson. Harold Macky, aged 35, married, Newton, a shunter on the train from Newmarket, suffered, injuries to the groin and hip. He. was admitted to hospital and his condition is not serious. Frederick Edwin Henry Ongley, aged 41, married, Point Chevalier, a shunter riding in the engine of the same train, suffered concussion and a severe cut under the right eye. Severa.l stitches were inserted in the cut and the injured man was admitted to hospital. His condition is regarded as not serious. Herbert Keid, driver of the train for Henderson, suffered slight facial wounds. . Jack Muir, aged about 36, married, Newmarket, fireman on the train from Newmarket, jumped clear just before the crash and rolled down an embankment. He received numerous abrasions and bruises and suffered badly from shock. After treatment at. the St. John Ambulance station, he was able to return to his home. A woman passenger, was also taken to the Auckland Hospital suffering from shock, but after treatment a: the casualty department she was able to proceed to.her home. A few yards from the. spot. where the collision occurred a double line commences, but the outward-bound train had not reached this cross over when a piercing and prolonged whistle was heard from the line ahead. The driver reduced speed, knowing that another train approaching at increasing speed down the fairly steep gradient was experiencing brake trouble and was giving the acknowledged warning to other traffic. It. was impossibleUo avert a collision,.and, within sight of Auckland station, the two tank locomotives met with.a. resounding crash. ENGINES LOCKED TOGETHER. The two engines were locked completely and were wedged so tightly that it was later found.necessary to break them apart by means of acetylene welders. Behind the outward-bound locomotive the first of a rake .of heavily-laden wagons was standing oh its end, and behind it a string of trucks was piled one against the other. However, much greater damage was done to the rolling stock drawn by the other train, the wreckage being indescnb- . Two wagons were standing up on end and another nine were smashed. Pigs in trucks were injured and some had to be killed. The line was completely blocked, several wagons being thrown off the line down a 20ft embankment. /A breakdown gang was hurriedly assembled, taxis being dispatched throughout the suburbs to obtain men. A determined start to clear the wreckage was made at'midnight in the eerie light of flares and small lamps, but no indication could: be given as to when the work would be completed. In the meantime all services have been diverted around the Orakei route. ' Mr H. C." Couch, district traffic manager said the inward-bound train got out of control and,~ while- it was impossible to state the cause at the present time, it was probably due to brake failure. VAIN EFFORT TO WARN. The two shunters, Harold ' Macky and Frederick- Ongley,-who were injured were reported today to be progressing satisfactorily. Their injuries are'not serious.The fact emerged today that the crew of the runaway shunting train realised that it was out of control when it was passing through the Parnell tunnel. From then on they kept the engine whistle sounding hi a warhmg plea for a clear run. The' circumstances were such, however, that.the collision was inevitable, as the outward bound train was approaching the tunnel of the bridge. '* '