MERCER TRAIN TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 23745, 28 November 1940, Page 14

MERCER TRAIN TRAGEDY

PROGRESS OF INQUIRY SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE A “ FIGHT AGAINST TIME " [Per United Press Association.} AUCKLAND, November 27. The sitting of the Board of Inquiry into the Mercer train derailment was continued in the afternoon. An engine driver of just over 30 years’ service, Thomas John Cliing, said lie had driven the Limited express, and knew the time-table was “ tight ” between Franktou and Paerata, which is on the Auckland side of Mercer. That was generally understood, and about the depot one heard now and again discussions about it. A driver taking over would know he would have to “ keep at it ” to maintain the schedule. It was a light against time all along. A detailed table showing comparisons between the speed and the running times of* express trains between station and station on the run from Frankton to Mercer, and those of the derailed Limited express, was produced by Charles Henry M'Leocl Hawk, assistant engineer on the staff of the district engineer at Auckland. “It will be seen,” he said, “ that the speed of train 688 (the derailed express) was kept within reasonable limits as far as Ngaruawaliia. From there, however, the _ speed was generally considerably increased, and the average speed attained a maximum of 61} miles an hour between Huntly and Ohinewai. Thence to the point of derailment, though the actual average speed dropped, it was still maintained at a much higher figure than the average speeds calculated from the minimum running times. Allowing a maximum speed of 50 miles an hour, with adjustments for curves and grades, as well as the permanent and temporary speed restrictions in force on October 28 over the whole run from Ngaruawahia to the point of derailment also, the actual average speed maintained by No, 688 on October 28 has been worked out and found to be much higher than the corresponding average speed of trains over this stretch of line calculated on the 50 miles an hour basis already mentioned.” The hearing was adjourned.