SEDDON DERAILMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26776, 20 May 1948, Page 6

SEDDON DERAILMENT

Authorised Speed on Curve Greatly Exceeded

Special to the Daily Times

WELLINGTON, May 19. The Board of Inquiry which investigated the railway accident near Seddon on February 25 last, resulting in the death of six persons and injury to 37 others, has issued its report. It finds that the derailment was caused by the locomotive overturning when the train entered a curve of 8.4 chains radius at a speed of over 52 miles an hour, thereby exceeding the authorised speed of 30 miles an hour by over 22 miles an hour. In this respect the,driver of the train was guilty of a serious dereliction of duty. In the interests of safety the board approves the present policy of the department in building all new cars with steel ends, and it further recommends that as soon as possible all engines should be fitted with speedometers.

The members of the Board of Inquiry were Mr W. F. Stilwell, S.M., Mr J. Wood, a former chief engineer of Public Works, and Mr G. E. Breeze, formerly ships’ surveyor at Wellington.

Discussing the human factor, the report states that Fireman and Acting Engine-driver Joseph William Gurr was guilty of a serious dereliction of duty in driving the engine at a speed far in excess of that prescribed by regulation for the curve on which the accident occurred. “ Fireman and Acting Engine-driver Gurr,” the report says, “ can proffer no explanation for the accident, but we are bound to say we are unable to understand how a driver with his experience and good record could fail to observe well-known regulations, and neglect to exercise ordinary vigilance and judgment within sight of'■clearlydefined and easily-observed warning aids. Fireman and Acting Enginedriver Gurr materially assisted the in? quiry by the candour .of his evidence.” Commenting on the condition of the rolling stock and of the permanent way in the locality of the derailment, the members of the board express themselves as satisfied that the component parts of the train were in first-class order and condition, and that the permanent way was well laid and maintained and perfectly safe to travel over at authorised speeds. “ The question of the use of steelend cars for passenger use, or anticollision ends as they are sometimes called, has received our con- ' sideration,” the report says. "As far as new construction is concerned, the department is now building all cars with steel ends. We agree this is most desirable, and will minimise appreciably the damage done in an accident.” ■ Examining the question of the steps that should be taken, if any, to prevent the occurrence of a similar derailment, the report states' that if the driver had complied with the prescribed regulations no accident would have occurred. It was therefore unnecessary to take further steps respecting any possible similar derailment. . Speedometers and the advisability of their more general supply and use were reviewed at length before the sittings of the board. “This question,” the, report says, “ has been considered at intervals over many years, and repeated attempts have been made to l obtain and experiment with such devices. In general, the efforts have not been successful, but recently an > electrical device has been obtained and is being tested which it is believed may provide reliable assistance to ers.-.,. “We recommend that all train engines be provided with speedometers of an approved type as soon as they are available,” the report says on this point. In conclusion, the board calls'’attention to the difficulty of staffing country stations. “We are of the. opinion, it says, “ that the housing position and lack of other amenities at country depots are substantially responsible for a general disinclination to accept appointments there. . The fact that five out of six men approached to accept this temporary relieving position at Kaikoura refused to go for domestic reasons adds point to this view. "We have formed the opinion, the report adds, “ that it has not been practicable to arrange for first-grade engine-drivers stationed at Kaikoura and Picton to man all the express trains running between these two points. We think, nevertheless, the . department should regularly review the engine-driver staffing position at Kaikoura and Picton and persist with efforts to ensure that, where practicable, first-grade engine-drivers man the express trains.”