RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR THE HUTT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7270, 12 September 1884, Page 7

RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR THE HUTT.

Yesterday morning week a somewhat serious accident happened near the Lower Hutt Railway Station to the train which left Wellington at 10.15 a.m. The occurrence fortunately was unattended by any fatality, but a number of trucks were smashed up. and the tender to the engine was considerably damaged. The engine, however, escaped with* ut receiving any injury, and although it left the line and ploughed up the track for a little distance, it was soon got upon the rails again, aud was driven back to the Pipitea station, where it at present remains. Tbc accident, it would appear, was occasioned by the carelessness of the pointsman at the Lower Hutt station, or some other official ou the spot, but as the railway authorities are at present exceedingly reticent as to the exact cause of the accident, or the extent of the damage, it was impossible to obtain full particulars, more especially as Me Ashcroft, tho local manager, went up the line during the orniog, and did not return that evening. So far as could be gathered, it seems that the train was a mixed one, and was made up of some sixteen trucks, with a Fairlie engine, of class R. The trucks were followed by four passenger carriages, and a guard’s van. With the exception of three of the trucks next to the engine, which were laden with general merchandise, the trucks were empty. The passengers consisted of six ladies and about ten or twelve gentlemen. The driver was John Shorten, his stoker being Thomas Flaws, the guard being an experienced and careful pervaot of the department, named Gongb. When the train had arrived within about 250yds of the Lower Hutt station, the signal was given that all was clear, and the train was ran on to tho points of a aiding which, however, it is state ! by one of the pas gangers, had not been locked since the 9 o’clock a.m. goods train that morning had left the siding for Wellington. Be this as it may, the engine on getting to the point*, left the track, dragging eight of the trucks, with it. The way was ploughed up for a considerable distance before the engine lost way and before it quite stopped. The only wonder appears to be how it was that the engine did not topple over. Several of the trucks were broken, and tho debris was thrown along the rails. The passengers escaped with little inconvenience, beyond a rather severe shaking. The intelligence was at once wired to Wellington, and a special engine, with a number of navvies, was sent to the scene. The passengers per the Wairarapa down were transferred to the 10.15 train, and arrived in town about 20 minutes late. The workmen were immediately put on and cleared the track,and the permanent way wassufficieutly repaired in the evening to permit the afternoon Wairarapa train to go through the Lower Hutt Station without any delay. We understand that an inquiry was held at the Lower Hutt last Friday by Mr Ashcroft, the district manager, into the accident. The proceedings were strictly private, which we think was a mistake, as the public have a perfect right, in the interests of their owu safety, to kmw what transpired.