TRAIN DERAILMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25394, 27 November 1943, Page 6

TRAIN DERAILMENT

CONDITION OF TRACK EVIDENCE OF ENGINEER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 26. The Board of Inquiry proceedings in connection with the derailment of a train from Upper Hutt on the morning of November 8, which resulted in the death of three persons and injury to 20 others, were continued to-day before Sir Francis Frazer (chairman), Mr John Wood (formerly engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department), and Mr H. L. Cole (secretary of the New Zealand Institute of Engineers).' Dr Mazengarb said he had been instructed to appear for the relatives of Mr P. G. Thomas, one of the three victims, and for several of those who had been seriously injured. The witness Frank Leineweber, an inspector of permanent way. was recalled and questioned as to the instructions he had issued with regard to work needing attention. Mr G. G. C. Watson, who is appearing for the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners’ Association: Two ’ engine drivers have given evidence that in the whole of the week preceding the derailment there was something the matter with the track practically at the scene of the accident sufficient to make an engine lurch both coming and going. Did you discover anything in the track to account for the lurch? , . Witness: Nothing at all. In fact, the very day I made an inspection I rode back on an engine. If I had found anything, I would have got a gang on the job immediately. Woman’s Letter to Board The chairman said the board had re-ceived-a letter from a daughter of a deceased ganger on that section of the line, ' it was as follows:—"My father said that particular place was always the worry ol nis length. He always maintained that a serious accident would occur there, as it had a tendency to sink, and he always said the line should be shifted out. . “ That, of course, is not evidence,, said the chairman, “ but I want you to say whether you noticed anything in the nature of a tendency to sink?" Witness: Nothing at all, only the ordinary gradual sinking you might expect on any section of track. Mr G. J. Bertinshaw. chief engineer of railways, said that after receipt of the letter from the Engineers, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association he made an inspection of the Wellington-Upper Hutt line With the district engineer, Major Aicken. Mr Watson: Would you consider a letter In those terms serious? Witness: Very serious indeed. He said they left Wellington at 8 a.m. or, a motor jigger and reached Upper Hutt about 5 p.m. They travelled slowly, stopping on practically all the curves and at many other places and walking altogether eight or nine miles. Irregularities could be felt on the motor jigger, but they did not depend on that alone. They depended on eyesight and walking over places which witness considered needed close Inspection. No bumps were felt on the trip. . . . . On September 15 witness reported to the general manager on the results of the inspection, stating that he was satisfied that there was no justification for taking the drastic action suggested by the E.F.C.A., and that the track was quite safe at the authorised rates of speed. He had not the slightest hesitation in coming to the opinion that the first derailment on August 20 was in no way due to the condition of the track. Actually It was due to a defect in a casting underneath the engine. He formed the same opinion of the state of the track after the accident of November 8. Adjournment to December 13 Seven witnesses, who were in various carriages of the wrecked train, all said the speed of the train was normal. Intimating that the inquiry would be adjourned till December 13, the chairman said that in the meantime the board desired information on two points to be obtained for submission. The board would like an investigation carried out of the formation in the vicinity of the derailment, and it was not satisfied with the results of the weighing of the locomotive. It would like further weighings to be carried out and, perhaps, further tests in the presence of the two technical members.