DERAILMENT OF TRAM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 29 November 1924, Page 15

DERAILMENT OF TRAM.

FALL DOWN EMBANKMENT.

ESCAPE OF THE PASSENGERS

SYDNEY, Nov. 11. The engine of a steam tram, while travelling a,t, ia high speed down a isteep decline near Miranda, between CronulLa and Sutherland, early yesterday morning, leapt from the rails and crashed down an embankment of about 15it. It overturned, and the driver Samuel Wyche, was crushed to death. The coupling of the two oars attached to the engine parted when it left the rails. One of the oars also- left the rails about 20ft." fiift-hef on, and fell down the embankment. Fourteen passengers received minor injuries or sufi ere'cl from shook, but there were no serious casualties.

With about 50 passengers aboard, including many holiday-makers, who had spent tire week-end at Gromilla, the tram left the Cronulla junction at 6.40 a.m., and was to’have connected with the train to reach Sydney at about 8.30. a.m. About midway between the two centres, the motor left the rails at the foot of the grade. After turning a, complete somersault, it landed in a gully about 15ft. below the rails. Fortunately the coupling between the motor and the first- carrage broke away, and the two. cars continued on their journey fob about 20 yards, when the first, car left the rails and fell into a fence below. Amid the smashing of woodwork and glass the passengers in the fifot car were hurled forward. Many had renwirk&ble escapes, but all escaped with minor injuries, arid some were net hurt.

The passengers hurried back to where tbs tranl motor lay. Dense clouds of steam were pouring from it, and a. hose was procured, bv means of which the fire was extinguished, thus averting an explosion. The dead body of the driver was then seen to be lying crushed beneath the engine. With the aid of levers hud wedges it- was recovered. and was found to have been terribly mutilated. One hand had been _ crushed underneath +he brake, indicating that ah endeavor had been made to stop, the tram.

Doctors were quickly on the scene, and attended to. the injured. Samuel Wyche. the 'driver, was a. married man, with one child. He bed nearly 39 veers’ '-service to his credit as .a. conductor and driver 0 f electric +ra.nm He bed colv recently been transferred 1 o Su+h srln nd.