EXPRESS TRAIN WRECKED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22823, 6 March 1936, Page 9

EXPRESS TRAIN WRECKED

CRASH INTO COAL TRUCKS GUARD'S WARNING TOO LATE HEROISM OF DYING DRIVER (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, January 18. At 5.15 a.m. on January 15, two people met their deaths, and 26 others received injuries of varying degree, as the outcome of a collision between an express train and five coal trucks on the Great Western Railway at Shrivenham, near Swindon. The express was the 9 p.m. mail-and-boat train from Penzance to Paddington. After passing Swindon it gathered speed, and it is estimated to be travelling at 60 m.p.h. at the time the driver taw the trucks and a guard's van. which had inexplicably become detached from the earlier coal train. The guard of the coal train made a gallant effort to avert the disaster. Shortly before it happened his van slowed down and he discovered that his van and several trucks had become detached, unknown to his own driver. Hearing the express approaching from behind, he jumped out and ran back along the track waving his lamp. Many passengers spoke of hearing the screech of brakes immediately before the crash. Immediately after the crash the engine fell on its side on the metals, its front buckled and its funnel torn oft; the first coach, its wheels torn off, rolled down the 20ft embankment and came to rest upside down, and the second coach was telescoped between the engine and the rear portion of the train, which escaped serious damage. Of the five trucks from the goods train the first was smashed and two others also badly damaged. The remaining two were sent careering along the line, the impetus carrying them to Ashbury Crossing. nearly two miles away. DRIVER'S HEROISM. Stones are told of the heroism of the driver of the express, Mr Ernest Starr. Starr was a man of 51, and single. He supported his 78-year-old widowed mother. He came to London with his father, who was also a G.W.R. engine driver, 30 years ago. He became a driver himself 25 years ago. During the past 12 years he has driven many of the chief G.W.R. espressos, including the Cheltenham Flyer. Both Starr and the fireman. Mr G. Couzcns, were trapped by coal which fell over them from the tender. Couzens had a remarkable escape, and was practically uninjured. It was a long time, however, before the rescuers could Ret Starr free. He was brave to the last as he advised his rescuers how to work. " The cabin of the locomotive was like a Chinese torture chamber," said one of the rescuers. " Every few minutes scalding water from the boiler and red-hot cinders fell on him." . When at last released Starr smiled his thanks to his rescuers and then became unconscious. lie died in hospital at Swindon about seven hours later. Before he became unconscious he said that he saw the waving red lamp of the guard only a few yards ahead. He braked, but it was too late. ESCAPING STEAM. The rescuers braved clouds of escaping steam to release him. One of them said: "He displayed the greatest fortitude, deliberately refraining from calling for help while we were seeking passengers It took us two hours to dig him the coal beneath which he was buried. Most of the injured passengers were in the first three coaches of the express. Many were asleep or dozing at the lime, and some were only partly dressed. Some were flung out of the windows on to the embankment; some were pinned beneath ihe collapsing walls of their compartments; others were flung through partitions into adjoining compartments. A PASSENGER'S STORY. Graphic descriptions of the accident were given by injured passengers. Mr isiierwood, of Torquay,' said: •' Four of us were dozing in a compartment in the second coach, my wife opposite me and two women in the other corners. There was a tremendous crash, and in an instant the carriage seemed to collapse on top of us. The walls caved in. I was pinned down, with wreckage iici'oss my face ntid arms, unable-to move. The two' women were alno trapped, hut my wife was hurled out of the carriage aiid on lo the side of the track, where site found herself without her shoes, but. tmscratched. ""There was n babel of shouts and screams. Uninjured passengers from j other coaches came running up and helped officials to tend the wounded. After what seemed hours, but must have been about 20 minutes, they were able to lift oft the wreckage and to free us. The seriously injured, wrapped in blankets, were laid on carriage cushions at the side of the track or taken into undamaged carriages for shelter. We all suffered intensely from the bitter cold. Several people were found wandering about in the frozen fields in stockinged feet. They were dazed, and Hid not. know where they were. "After first aid had been given on the spot, a special train arrived and took us to Swindon. There the Turkish baths had been cleared as a casualty station, and food and hot. drinks were waiting for us. Later we were removed to hospital."