DRIVER'S BELIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23072, 24 June 1938, Page 14

DRIVER'S BELIEF

RATANA DERAILMENT SPREADING OF RAM SUBSIDENCE ON ONE SIDE DENIAL OF HIGH SPEED [by telegraph—press association] ;*r "WELLINGTON, Thursday, The last witness called by the board of inquiry set up to investigate the ; 3. Ratana railway disaster on March 26, tbo driver of the train, E. C. Perrival, concluded his evidence to-day. He was cross-examined on various aspects of the derailment, princi- ' pally the speed of the train and the fl fog conditions on the Ratana Flat^; The inquiry was adjourned at 5 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Monday, when ''fcounsel will address the board. The board of inquiry consists of Sir Francis Frazer (chairman)-, Mr. F. W. Furkert and Mr. H. L. Cole. Mr. H. F. O'Leary, K.C., with him . Mr. F. C. Aickin, railway law officer, ' are appearing for the Railway Department; Mr. G. G. G. Watson is representing the New Zealand Locomotive Engineers, Firemen and Cleaners' Asso-. ciation, and also the driver, Mr. E. i Percival;' Mr. F. J. Foot is appearing for the relatives of Mrs. E. Lewis, a passenger killed in the disaster; and Mr. N. T. Gillespie is watching procecdings on behalf of the relatives of Mrs. M. R. Tulloek, another victim. Time Made Up Percival gave it as his impression at the time that the rails spread under the engine. He said he was eight minutes late in leaving Marton and made up four minutes to Turakina. Leaving there four minutes late did not give him concern, seeing that he had not been over the line for a long time. The men who would take over from him at Aram,oho and knew tile line could make it up. Witness said it would be ridiculous to suggest that the train took the curve at 50 miles an hour. He was doing less than that when he shut off at Ratana and for the greater part of a mile before the accident he had been drifting down with the steam off and had applied the brakes a few seconds before the accident. His impression was either that the rails spread or the track subsided on one side. He could not say whether that was the cause of the derailment or not. There was no" question as to the brakes functioning properly and they were quite all right before the smash. Brakes in Good Order Mr. O'Leary: The brakes were used frequently on the trip and functioned properly? - ;; Witness: The last time I used them before going over the Ratana Flat was on the down grade to Turakina. / There was no question of them not functioning satisfactorily?— They were quite alright there, also when I ijsed them on the Ratana Flat before itiie accident. The engine had not been detached from the train en route, .

Mr, O'Learr quoted a rule , which specified that drivers should proceed cautiously in fog so that they would be able to stop short of the signals "Didr-you consider that in the case of the fog yon ran into? r; . counsel asked. • i Witness: No, there were no fixed signals on the Ratana Flat. "In every circumstance a driver must be guided by prudence and judgment and always bear in mind the public safety." said Mr. O'Leary, quoting a further regulation. "In fog you would keep that rule in mind?" Witness: Yes. Speed Restriction Did you notice when you consulted the working time-table in Wellington that from a point between Bonny Glen and Turakina to the bottom of the Fordell grade the maximum speed authorised for a distance of 16 miles was 35 miles ah hour?— Yes. If it is correct you were travelling at 40 miles an hour near Ratana yov were not observing the restriction ii the working .timetable ?-—When I saj 40 miles an hour, I might have been ; under. Do you agree with other drivers whc gave evidence and said they could judg< speed to a couple of miles either wavr —I think I could do as well as tin best of them. If travelling at 40 miles as hour you were not observing the speed restriction?—We had a good straight track. Do you think a good straight track entitles you to disregard the speed restriction?— According to my estimation I was a shade above the speed laid down. You can usually go two m three miles over the maximum laid down by the maintenance people unless on a special restriction. Application of Brakes

Your next action of importance aft* l speaking to your mate about the speed restriction was to put on the brakes and reduce the speed from 37 miles an hour. How long were the brakes actually on? —I would only be guessing, t> ut I would say three to four seconds. The Chairman: Do you still thins that keeping the brakes on for four seconds was a good guess. if it tftfee. 12 seconds with a 41b. to 51b. ftPP' tion to reduce the speed from 37 to miles an hour? , Witness said he could not say exact pressure of the application.' » did not refer to the Westinghousei bw« gauge in the cab. He agreed wius • P. A. Angus, locomotive superintendent, that 4lb. to 51b. application wou give retardation of a mile per." ° per second, in which case his estim® • of the brakes being on for four sec £S..° would be extended to 12 seconds. » ness said he might have made 8 P . application, but no more than 1010-» - which case the rate of retardat would be even greater. Witness a that he usually judged speed by beat of the locomotive and by chectin„ passing objects.

Judging* ol Speed The Chairman: Would you say you would judge speed as accurately w running down the Eatana straigo 11 W?tness: All I would have to hjj mo would be the clank of tbe those circiimstanoos, can certain of your estimate of 4 11 ,, v . an hour?—Vos. I still feel rP:lsn ,'„ f it re tain of that, because there *v;is much f<>2 at Hatana. . . n , Mr. Watson: Did you consider tn« was the slightest danger to the A.', n sengers, the train or yourseii . fl travelling at 40 miles an hour, or you reduced to 37 or 38 miles . aU v n after passing through Ratauar * ' M At the time you made sta I ; n 2 to Detective Murray you knew noW of the inquiry being set up. '.'r ore correct. It was over three weeks ] was allowed to see a newspaperAUCKLAND BIRD SHOW jpg| The ani.uai show ot l '}}\ A, "Jji' nl i» 'il Canary and Cajjy U(1 ( : n tit* T'., held to-day and to-morrow , 4 j Unity Hall. Queen Street, Ifurther P» ticulars are advertised. yzg