EXPRESS IN PERIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15263, 29 March 1913, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXPRESS IN PERIL.

COLLISION DURING A THICK FOGDense fog, which enveloped practically the whole of England and Wales aid portions .of/the. Continent a few weeks ago, ■ was responsible for many accidents, entailing, in some - instances, a sacrifice of human life. , One of the most alarming disinters occurred at My tholmroyd, on tho' L. and Y. Railway, where a Leeds to > Blackpool express ran into a pilot engine, with a brake van arid one waggon loaded with pig iron, standing in the station* ;: Fortunately the express was pulling up at the time. The impact, however, ' was sufficient to knock the pilot engine Jsoi yards. The brake van mounted the waggon .'' and - was wrecked. The vanman had i miraculous escape. He saw the train, and jumped into the four-foot way. This undoubtedly saved his life, as his van was i ' telescoped and smashed to bits, tho ' splinters striking him as he made good his : ; escape. The driver and fireman of the pilot, engine' stuck to their posts and V escaped , luckily. - The fireman , complained of injuries to ilia back, and the driver was bruised about the face.. The rear wheels of the van got amongst the express engine machinery and caused it to mount the : station platform.' Passengers in the express felt the shock, and a few of them in the ; front coaches were knocked about and complained of minor effects, but the majority-- of people in tho crowded train were .' unaware that anything untoward had hap- ■■ pened. The accident, was entirely due to ■■■:' the fog. The signalman thought the brake - was in* the siding, and tie signals were clear for the passenger train, but owing to the dense fog it was impossible to see many yards in front. Considerable damage was done to the permanent way, and lor over four hours all traffic between Lancashire and Yorkshire was suspended.