SHUNTER KILLED

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 March 1928, Page 7

SHUNTER KILLED

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

ARE NEW YARDS SAFE ?

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, March 9.

An inquest into the death of the shunter, Horace Gordon Grose, who died after receiving injuries in the new Middleton shunting yards, became in fact an inquiry by the Magistrate, (Mr E. D. Mosley) into the safety or otherwise of the methods of shunting followed in the yards. Ever since the Middleton yards have been opened for work, there have been reports that shunters did not like them, considering them dangerous. The main feature of the yards, which is new in New Zealand', is a raised portion of hump, which is used for the running of lines of trucks down inclined tracks, when making or breaking up trains. At the yards, which were opened a few months ago, all the goods trains of Christchurch are made up.

Evidence was given that Grose, in attempting to break trucks moving at six miles an hour, in broad daylight, jumped on a brake, but failed to catch the handrail on the truck because it was covered by a tarpaulin. Samuel Ernest Fay .operating equipment assistant, of the New Zealand Railways, who designed the yards, was cross-examined at length as to the .safety of the human method of shunting. He said it would not be possible to improve on the safety of the braking system, except at a great cost. In England, side brakes were used, and human shunting yards were considered safe. He agreed that the handrails ought not to be covered, but he was unable to suggest a means by which they could be left free. On this last point the Coroner disagreed with witness, declaring that it could be done, and must be done. The Coroner also stated that he had seen trucks in the yards travelling uncontrolled at 12 to 18 miles hourly. Evidence of some witnesses was that the speed did not exceed 12 miles ; and of others that it reached 15 miles. It was stated also that occasionally shunters found it impossible, owing to extreme danger, to stop trucks with the front brakes travelling so fast, and that smashes had occurred in the yards owing to shunters letting them, go. These smashes had been the subject of a circular of instruction from the Department. The Coroner found that Grose met his death through being run over by a truck. He added to his finding the following: —“That the safety of shunters makes it necessary that tarpaulins on trucks shall be so tied, as to leave the handrail free in order that it can be used for the purpose for which it is intended —to safeguard life, and that, in the opinion of the Coroner, the system of shunting at Middleton Yards should be improved so that reasonable means of control can be used without endangering human life.”

ENGLISH EXPERIENCES

(Special to “Star.")

CHRISTCHURCH, March 9. That sidebrakes only are used on trucks in England, was one of the statements by John Lightfoot, at the inquest into the shunting fatality to-day. . , „ * Lightfoot said that he had twentyfive years’ experience on English railways, and two years’ experience in the hump yard in South Yorkshire, which dealt with about 15,000 trucks in a night. Poles, he said, were used for uncoupling trucks. These regulations, he added had been made compulsory by Parliamentary legislation. Lightfoot was called as a witness by Mr. Thomas, who appeared for the Shunters’ Council. Witness said he started work with the English railways in 1592. Sidebrakes used in England were higher than the present leading or rear brakes in New Zealand. The former were easier of application and lighter. Before trucks were let away from the Hump, their brakes and other parts were tested by two inspectors. If a wagon had faulty brakes, it was not allowed io go down the Hump on its own, but was attached to another wagon, which had good brakes. The uncoupling of trucks was done by a pole the shunter standing away from the line. It would take three or four months’ experience to decide whether a yard was? working satisfactorily. Mr. Donnelly. And knowledge also. This, in witness’s opinion, was not worth anything. Mr. Thomas: Talking of knowledge how many trucks would South Yorkshire yard handle in a night? Witness: About 15,000. Coroner (to Mr. Donnelly): Witness’s opinion is of some value, but not as valuable as that of an expert. Mr. Donnelly: It may be some value within the limits of his experience.