TRAIN SMASH

Evening Star, Issue 25927, 19 October 1946, Page 9

TRAIN SMASH

ENGINE GREW FOR TRIAL (P.A.) AUCKLAND, October 18. Further evidence was heard to-day in the case concerning the smash at the Papatoetoe railway station on August 24, in which the driver and the fireman of a train which collided with a stationary train were charged with neglect of duty and causing actual bodily harm to a passenger. The accused were George Robert Pretoria Dickson, engine driver, aged '46, single, and Desmond Samuel lUsley, fireman, aged 22, single. William Butcher, Railways Department locomotive engineer; said the locomotive driven by the accused had been overhauled in February, and was in good order. After the collision witness found the emergency brake applied, but could not say whether it had been put there toy Dickson or had moved in the accident. The authorised speed for trains between Mangere crossing and Papatoetoe was 50 miles an hour, and it was estimated that the average speed of train No. 141 had been about 37J miles an hour. It would be hard to estimate the speed of the train at the. time of impact, but he was satisfied that it was stopping. “ It was the duty of both Dickson and Illsley to check the signals as they approached Papatoetoe,” said witness. “If there had been any doubt the train should have been stopped.” Tests to prove the drivers’ visibility signals were described by witness. It had been proved that at nO time was the stationary train visible from the driver’s side of the engine owing to the height of the side tanks. Both accused pleaded not guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for trial.