TRAMCAR TRAIN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10105, 24 March 1909, Page 4

TRAMCAR TRAIN.

COLLISION NARROWLY AVERTED. {Otago Daily Times.) A highly sensational incident, which providentially was unattended by fatal results, occurred at the railway crossing on the Anderson's Bay road at noon yesterday. The tram which left the Post Oifice At 11.54 was proceeding heavily laden with passengers in the direction of the Caledonian Grounds, and. was rapidly approaching 1 the point where the railway crosses the road'. The bell at the signal station commenced to ring clamorously, and was quickly followed by the rumble of an approaching train. There was no. possible chance of the ear clearing the railway line before the train came past, yet the car with its cargo of packed humanity kept on its way, and the metals began to vibrate to the swiftly approaching train. The signalman showed the -danger signal and in other ways attempted to attract the attention of the motorman and to warn him of the awful catastrophe which was inevitable if he persisted in lii& attempt to negotiate the crossing at such a time. But the motorman appeared to be looking another way. Signals, boil, tho roar of the train, the frenzied gesticulations of.the man at the signal post, were ail unheeded or unnoticed; and the car sped on to what seemed to be a frightful death to all on board of .it. To a'lew terror-stricken pedestrians the collision seemed unavoidable, and one or two rushed forward, while others turned away to shut out, if possible, the impending horror from their si^ht. On either side of the railway, however, there are throw points, and j\ist when the collision seemed about to occur the signalman derailed the car, and the train thundered by within n few feet of it.

To state "that the occupants of the tram were frightened would be putting it mildly. Considering the situation, the shock, and the noise of the train, their state of mind may be imagined-. This was bad enough, but it was by no means all. The occupants of the car, having escaped one peril by a hair's breadth, were confronted with another —electrocution. Though the car had been mercifully derailed it had not been overturned, and the trolley pole still kept connection with the wire. The passengers,' hurriedly descending placing their feet on the track and touching the ironwork of the car, were iiable to shock, but fortunately ho one seems to have sustained injury. The derailed car soon attracted a crowd, and the motorman and the conductor accepted oilers of assistance from several present io replace the car on the rails. The current still remained switched on, and in handling the car several men came in contactwith the current and were thrown violently to the ground, narrowly escaping being electrocuted. Eventually the tram was replaced on the metals, and continued its journey, the Anderson's Bay and.Tahuna Park service having been considerably delayed. It is stated that the man on duty at the signal station did everything in his power to attract the attention of the motorman. Had the car not been derailed at the instant it was the train must inevitably have crashed into it, causing terrible mutilation and great loss of life. The locomotive would in all probability have been derailed, and the train behind it jjartially wrecked. Motorman Mewall, the driver of the car, handed in his report last night to Mr C. F. Alexander, the tramways manager. It is said to be a hopelessly unsatisfactory document. The only thing that commends it is its honesty. * Tho driver states that he " got the bell from the conductor," and after that a passenger attracted his attention and he went on, not seeing the signal or being aware of the approaching train. The name of the conductor is Graham. Semaphores are placed at either side of the crossing, and the rules for tramway motormcn, when negotiating the same, arc specific and comprehensible. Neglect of any part of these rules renders a- motorsman iiable to instant dismissal. The throw-points are arranged to work automatically. A departmental inquiry will be conducted by Mr Alexander at- nine o'clock this morning.