RECENT RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18896, 23 June 1923, Page 17

RECENT RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

. OFFICIAL STATEMENT. Tho Hon. J. G. Coates. Minister of Railways, has issued tho following statement in connection with the recent accident to tho Main Trunk express:— A full inquiry has , been held by the Railway Department in connection with the mishap to the Wellington-Auckland express on June 9 in the first tunnel after leaving Thorndon station. The result of the inquiry shows that the brakes were thoroughly tested as usual before the train left Thorndon, and they proved to bo efficient. The accident was due to, the bursting of the Westinghouse brake hose in the tunnel between the first and second carriages, causing the train to part. The rear portion of the train was automatically brought to a standstill, while the front portion travelled a short distance. The locomotives were blowing off steam, at high pressure when they entered tho tunnel. The condition in the tunnel from, heat, smoke, and steam was so bad that the engine crews were compelled to leave the" footplates and gel down, to the water table to escape suffocation. These disabilities were increased by tho darkness in tho tunnel, and there is no doubt the trying conditions affected the judgment of the men in their efforts to get out of the tunnel into fresh air. From the evidence it is quite clear that the crews of both engines were on the verge of collapse from smoke ami steam. Although the impact between the front and rear portions of the train was not severe, the pressure exerted by the weight of the two engines and carriages—approximately 200 tons —against the rear portion of the train, which had, of course, remained immovable, was sufficient to cause the near platform of the postal car to mount the platform of (he first car of the rear portion of the train. Tho draw-gear of some of the cars was bent, and (ho fact that no glass was broken in either doors or windows is a clear indication that the damage to the rolling stock was tho result of a crushing force exerted by tile weight of the' (wo engines and the postal 'car rather than the impact, No one sustained injury. .