RAILWAY MISHAPS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 227, 23 August 1935, Page 9

RAILWAY MISHAPS

A REASSURING STATEMENT. RECENT TUNNEL ACCIDENT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. The General Manager of Railways (Mr G. H. Mackley), on the authority of the Railways Board, has issued a statement in connection with the Poro-O-Tarao derailment. The finding of the departmental inquiry confirms the earlier conclusion . that the accident was due to a most unusual combination of unfavourable circumstances, resulting in the presence of a small, though sufficient, quantity of carbon monoxide gas in the engine cab to overcome the men on the footplate. It was the first case of its kind associated wtili the New Zealand railways, nor had they any record of a similar case in other parts of the railway world.

The conditions, both in relation to the accumulation of gas and its escape from the firebox in the small though sufficient volume to overcome the men before atmospheric conditions or the movement of the train could dispel it would, he was assured by professional men of standing, require to be absolutely perfect, and they hold the view, as do the departmental experts, that the likelihood of such a perfect 3et of maximum unfavourable conditions again developing is extremely remote indeed. Everything reasonably practicable would be done to make the assurance doubly sure and guard against the possibility of such a set of circumstances arising in combination in future.

Mr Mackley adds that the board desires him to allay any public apprehension that may exist as a result of the recent derailments of goods waggons attached to goods trains or semigoods trains working on running lines. He points out that the trucks are four-wheeled vehicles, but the carnages are carried on bogies. The annual mileage run by goods trains is 5,972,692 and by passenger trains 4,653,708. When it is remembered that the department has 27,310 goods waggons running so many million miles a year tho incidence of mishaps is seen in its true proportion. “The department has a record of achievement in regard to immunity from passenger accident of which it is rightly proud. The condition of the permanent way and the rolling stock was never better than at the present time, the expenditure on these two items alone amounting in the last financial year to £644,396 and £926,797, respectively,” Mr Mackley adds.