TRAIN SMASH

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 May 1928, Page 5

TRAIN SMASH

ON EAST COAST LINE ELEVEN PASSENGERS HURT. ACCIDENT OCCURS ON HILL. YXGI.VE CRASHES INTO CARRIAGE lB V I'KI.KURAPU -PRKBS ASSOCIATION .) GISBORNE, May .19. Eleven passengers out of the 25 who were aboard when the train left Gisborne yesterday" afternoon for Motuhora were injured in an accident on Otako Hill, about eight o’clock last night. Generally the injuries were of a minor nature, but two men were brought back to Gisborne and admitted to Cook 'Hospital at .3.30 a.m.- The names of tlie injured (worst cases) are:— R. Whitson, of 13 Norana Avenue, Remuera, Auckland, engineer, ruptured vein on hip, facial injuries and concussion. A. J. Campbell, of Opotiki. settler, concussion. Those receiving minor injuries are: F. AV. Marshall, of Patutahi, badly jarred and abrasions on right knee; G. A. Ross, 31 Lyndhurst Street, Gisborne, slight bruise on head; P. H. Whittington, of Motu, slight bruise on left hip; Harry Maxwell, 13 Stanley Road, Gisborne, cuts on lip; P. Fredericks, of Rakauroa, slight bruise on head V. Oman, Grey Lynn, Auckland, abrasions of left leg; Mrs. V. P. Fredericks, of Rakauroa, ruptured muscles of left shoulder; Mrs. B. J. Climo, of Motuhora, cuts on heaq and abrased on left lag; Mrs. T. L. Barker, of Motuhora, ruptured muscles of back.

ENGINE CRASHES INTO CARET AG ES.

The mishap was due to the heavy rain and consequent greasy nature of the rails. All went ivell as far as Otako Hill, which has been the cause of frequent trouble to the Railway Department. The tram was comprised of four trucks laden with general merchandise, cars, etc., two passenger carriages and a guard’s van. The engine driver made strenuous efforts for three-quarters of au hour to ascend the hill and it was then decided to follow the common practise anq divide the train. The engine of the W2 class, drawing the four trrucks, reached the top of the hill and left the trucks there and then descended for the carriages and the guard’s van. Coming down the hill again the wheels of the engine would not grip on the greasy rails and despite the fact that the driver applied the brakes, the engine crashed, bunker end first, into the loading stationary carriage. The guard of the train was A. J. Bird, and the driver, B. J. Pemberthy.

SHOCK AND CONFUSION. There was a terrible shock, tlie passengers being thrown in jumbled heaps' about the carriages. Tne lights immediately" went out, and the shrieking of women and children added to the general panic. A moment previously they had been chaffing one another about the long wait. The next moment all was confusion. Gradually order was restored and' the true state of the affair was revealed.

BRAKES OF CARRIAGES HOLD. Fortunately for the passengers the brakes of tlie carriages had been securely locked and they held 1 against the strain of the engine’s crash. Had the brakes given way (since the smash occurred some distance up the hill) the carriages would have swept downhill and probably have jumped the rails, thus bringing al>out a far more terrible smash. The foremost carriage was buckled throughout its length and the forward, platform almost flattened' up against the carriage end. Evidence of the extent of the buckling was given by the smashing of the wash basin in the centre of the carriage, and the partially squeezing together of the seats. The se ond carriage did not- suffer nearly so much, -hut its accupants suffered in hardly a- .less degree than those of the first carriage. The front of the engine suffered slight damage, being badly dented and having some heavy couplings snapped off. Mrs. Vivian Oman, of Auckland, came in for special praise from all the passengers for her work after the crash. Relief gangs were despatched from, R-akauroa, and a, train was sent out, from Gisborne with a 1 doctor and nurses, the scene of the accident being re a Hied at 11.30. - Everything possible was done to relieve the sufferers before the arrival of the relief train, the first carriage being taken back to Rnkauroa by the original ensrine. The relief engine on arrival poshed the remainder of the train to Rakauroa. arid-then took all except’ the badly injured carriage off at Motnhora,, while the damaged engine' came' hack to town with the relief partv. and the injured men. Messrs. Campbell and Whitson, who Were taken to hospital.