RAILWAY SMASH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23527, 16 June 1938, Page 9

RAILWAY SMASH

. THE RATANA INQUIRY SPEED OF THE TRAIN EVIDENCE OF WITNESSES (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 15. Further evidence on the speed of the Wellington-New Plymouth excursion train, which was derailed in a cutting near Ratana on March 26, was given in Wellington to-day before the Board of Inquiry set up to investigate the cause of the disaster. Seven passenger witnesses were heard and opinions varied. Some stated that the train was travelling too fast and others said the speed was normal.

A woman passenger described a conversation she had with the fireman after the accident The fireman, she said, asked if he were wearing civilian clothes and seemed very concerned about this point. Witness said he was badly injured, but he was dressed in dungarees. Cross-examined, she said the fireman did not impress her as being delirious or that his mind was wandering because of his injuries. The remainder of this week will be devoted to the hearing of the evidence of further passengers. There was nothing exceptional about the running of the train from Turakina to the point of derailment, said Harry William Bish, leading fitter for the Railways Department on the Wellington section, who boarded the excursion train at Marton. He said the speed along the Ratana flat was normal. There was a slight application of the brakes as though the driver was easing up. He did not consider this application due to the snapping of the Westinghouse brake hose. ~ . To Mr Watson, witness said that within reason he knew every curve and every hill on that section of the line, and he was aware when the train was a few chains from the curve near Ratana. To him the speed appeared to be normal. Mr Watson; If the train had been rushing at an excessive speed toward this curve, you would have noticed it? Witness; Undoubtedly. And the application of the brakes was consistent with a normal approach to the curve?—-Yes. Harry Arthur Jones, a casual platelaver on the New Zealand railways, Taihape, who also joined the train at Marton, said he was a passenger in the first car, and considered the soeed nothing out of the ordinary. When passing the Ratana Station the train was easing down. Two or three seconds before the accident the brakes were applied. Cross-examined by Mr Watson, witness said he was horn in the district and knew every inch of the line. In his opinion the tram was travelling at 25 miles an hour when approaching the curve. The inquiry will be resumed at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.