RAILWAY COLLISION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19801, 28 May 1926, Page 9

RAILWAY COLLISION

SMASH AT CAULFIELD. TWO KILLED AND SEVEN INJURED. (Trees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright) MELBOURNE, May 26. While a passenger train from Melbourne to Carxum was standing at the station at Caulfield Junction a passenger train from Melbourne to Oakleigh crashed into it from the rear, telescoping tbe two end carriages. The passengers were thrown in all directions and the whole station was strewn with debris. George Beamish and William Dobney were killed and 30 persons were injured, seven seriously. These latter are : Stanley Weeks, John Cronk, Arthur Upton, John Buttle, Elsie Dean, Mabel Gamble, and Ethel Sorrenson. Tlie collision occurred at 6.20 o’clock, when the evening traffic was at its peak. But for the fact that the second train was travelling at the reduced speed which is usual on drawing into a station, the casualty list must have been much greater. Both trains concerned were electrically driven. Caulfield station is approached by a round, sharp curve. The view of the platform at which the collision occurred, is obstructed to approaching traffic from the Melbourne side bv the signal box. The signals at Caulfield are worked manually. It is claimed that if they had been automatic the accident would have been well-nigh impossible. The force of the impact raised the rear portion of the second-last carriage of the stationary train from its bogey so that the floor level was several feet above the platform, and the last carriage was driven through the first three compartments of that ahead of it. The floor of the rear carriage was on a level with the seats of the preceding one. This caused many passengers to be injured about the legs. The compartments which were wrecked were reduced to a tangled mass of splintered wood and twisted metal. Difficulty was experienced in releasing the injured, who were penned beneath the wreckage.

A large force of police and railwaymen and uninjured passengers worked hard at this task. Crowbars, axes, and saws had to be used to release some of the passengers. THIRD VICTIM SUCC : B 8 CAUSE OF ACCIDENT INEXPLICABLE. MELBOURNE, May 27. (Received May 27, at 10 p.m.) Arthur Upton has succumbed to his injuries. A revised list shows that 46 persons were injured most of whom were pinned under the wreckage for nearly an hour before they were extricated. It was the most serious accident on the suburban railways since the electric system was installed. How the smash occurred is at present inexplicable. The portion of the line where it took place comes within the suburban automatic safety signal system and the smash is puzzling the experts. When one train is standing at a station it should be impossible for another train to enter the platform. It was believed at first that the system had failed, but a test made after the line had been cleared showed that the mechanism was working satisfactorily. INJURED NUMBER SIXTY. MELBOURNE, Ma v 27. (Received May 27, at 11.50 p.m.) The list of injured in the railway smash is now increased to 60.