DIED ON HIS ENGINE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12526, 16 August 1926, Page 2

DIED ON HIS ENGINE

FATE OF LOCOMOTIVE DRIVER SUFFOCATED IN A TUNNEL DANGERS OF MONOXIDE GAS “That Herbert Hefiernan died in Ardgien Tunnel on July ttth from asphyxia and poisoning by carbon monoxide, accidentally caused by the engine, upon which ho was employed, accumulating fumes and gases in the tunnel, and through there being not sufficient means for the dispersal of the gasses and) the protection of Hetfernan.” This was the verdict of the coroner at the inquest. “I heard a whistle, but took no notice until it blew again. This was unusual. The sound came from the top of the ash bank, so 1 stopped the car, and from the railway lino a voice cried, ‘Oh, my God quick!’ ” Night Officer Robert Russell, who was motoring along the Great Northern road, when he came across the locomotive of the train, which crashed outside Ardgien on July 9th, made this statement at the inquiry to-day concerning the death of Fireman Heffernan. The night officer said he found the driver, Thomas Claude Holt, in a semi-conscious state, leaning over the tender rail. Holt mumbled that he was burnt, and called for water. Heffernan was lying spread on his back, apparently dead. Dr Middleton said that, in his opinion, death was due to asphyxiation and poisoning by carbon monoxide. In the confined space of a tunnel and the open cab of an engine carbon .monoxide from the smoke would be contributory- to coma, and perhaps death. Assuming that there were pockets of gas in the tunnel, the puffing of the engine would circulate this gas. DRIVER’S VERSION Driver Thomas Claude Holt appeared still to be very much shaken. He entered the box with his head swathed in bandages and his right hand tied up. Ho described that inside the tunnel the train was stopping, and he felt himself being overcome by seme unusual circumstances 1 . He had a vague recollection of stopping the train. That was all he knew. He had no remembrance of starting it agaip. Ho remembered blowing tlie whistle. Heffernan was lying across the footplate. Witness spoke to him, but bo did not reply. He felt his pulse, hut there was no movement. Witness had been burnt on tlie back of the right hand, the right side of the hand and neck. TRYING EXPERIENCE While driving the Sydney express once he had been stopped 13 minutes in the tunnel, and his fireman, George Gibbs, was rendered unconscious by the heat. Other men he had had working with him had been overcome, and he had had very trying experiences. On many occasions the red lamps on the brake-van had gone cut; also the gauge lamp in the engine, while passing through the tunnel. Guard Willian Isaac reaches- said he flashed a red light to the driver, expecting an answering whistle, but got none. Immediately there was a. crash, and when he got to the track he found both sides blocked by- smashed trucks. Francis Leslie Dixon, assistant night officer at Ardgien, said that as the runaway train dashed through he sdw one man lying huddled on the footplate, his head near the firebox door and his feet towards the tender The other man was in a collapsed position on the fireman’s side of the engine. Ho had a coat over his head. RESPIRATORS TOO HOT Other witnesses, including H. H. Lovett, Guard Jordan and Driver f\el!y, described the effects when in tunnels. All spoke of 'feelings of suffocation. and some had collapsed. Certain of these witnesses alleged that the men preferred a water-satur-ated sw-eat-cloth tied over the face to the service respirators, winch they said were too hot. One witness stated that when a banking engine wns not used the temperature in the cab of an engine often reached 122 degrees.