SAFETY OF SHUNTERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 March 1928, Page 5

SAFETY OF SHUNTERS.

CONDITIONS AT MIDDLETON

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

OHE-ISTCHUHiOH, March 9. The inquest into the death of a 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 in the yards. Ever since the Middleton \ards have been opened for work there have been reports that the shunters aid not line them, considering them dangerous. The main feature of the yards, which is new in New Zealand, is a raised portion or hump used for the running of lines of trucks down inclined tracks when making or breaking up trains. The yards were opened a few months ago, and all the goods trains of Christchurch are now made up there. Evidence was given that Grose, in attempting to brake trucks moving at .six miles per hour in broad daylight, jumped on' the brake, hut 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 braking system and the safety of rhe hump method of shunting. He said it would not be possible tp improve the safety of the braking svstem except at great cost. In England side brakes were used and the bump shunting yards were considered ■safe, lie agreed that handrails should not be covered, but bo was unable to suggest any means by which they could lie left free. On this last point the Coroner disagreed with witness, declaring that it could be done. The Coroner also stated that he had seen trucks in the yards travelling uncontrolled at 12 to 18 miles per hour. The evidence of some witnesses was that the speed did not exceed 12 miles, and of others that it reached 15 miles, [t was stated also that occasionally shunters found it impossible, owing to extreme danger, to stop trucks with rout brakes travelling so fast. Smashes had occurred in the yards owing to shunters letting trucks go. These smashes had been the subject ot a circular of instruction from the partmentThe Coroner found that Grose met bis death by being run over by a truck.

He added to the finding the follow-

ln g: “That the safety of shunters makes it necessary that tarpaulins on trucks shall be so tied ns to leave the hand rail free in order that it can be used for the purpose for which it-is intended. to safeguard life. “That in the opinion of the C'ovoner the system of shunting at the Middleton yards should he improved, so that reasonable means of control can be used without endangering human ii'e.”