RAILWAY ACCIDENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22285, 11 June 1934, Page 8

RAILWAY ACCIDENT

LINES CLEAR FOR TRAFFIC DEPARTMENTAL INQUIRY TO BE HELD feo speedily was the work of removing the wreckage of Friday's railway smash carried out that on Saturday morning both lines were open for traffic, although trains were l forced to observe the speed restriction imposed by the department in such cases on the section where the line had been relaid. A certain amount pi work was done towards consolidating the newly-laid track on Saturday, and the permanent rails will be placed in position some time this week, when the running will be back to normal.

It is as yet impossible to estimate accurately the damage to the consignment of 6000 carcasses of mutton, a large proportion of which was taken back to the Finegand works for reconditioning. A number of the moat vans, of course, remained on the rails, and the carcasses in these, together with those in some of the vans which left the rails but remained upright, did not receive any apparent damage. A good deal of the mutton in the wrecked wagons must be practically a total loss, however, and it is estimated in some quarters that the loss will amount to somewhere in the vicinity of 30 per cent, of the whole. The Railways Department is as yet unable to make any accurate estimate of the damage suffered to its rolling stock and permanent way as the result of the accident.

Although more than one theory as to the cause of the accident has been put forward, nothing definite will be known until the departmental inquiry has been completed. This will be opened to-day. and the sitting will commence at 9 a.m.