RAIL CAR SMASH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19141, 9 October 1936, Page 9

RAIL CAR SMASH

VICTIMS VISITED FAVOURABLE PROGRESS PASSENGERS* STORIES TERRIFIC FORCE OF (JALE (?i'f Pruss Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. In a further statement last night with reference to the derailment yesterday morning of the 1 rail car Mamari on the KimiitaKa incline, the general manage, l ' of railways, Mr. G. H.'Mackley, said he called ai the hospital at F'eatlierstoh at 8 p.m. and found three, of the women passengers who were injured to bo in the brightest possible spirits. A doctor informed him that it was quite likely they would be alile to leave for their homes to-day or very shortly afterwards. "The gale was not unlike that experienced in; the Manawatu last February, excepting that it was much more localised,' said Air. Mackley in referring to the tone of the wind which blew the t'aii oar off the line'. "During the Mnnawalti .•gifte, two carriages on an excursion I rain (.ravelling from l'almerston North to Wellington were blown over at Makerua, as a result of which precautions were taken to erect an.anemometer, so thai in the event of the anemometer showing a wind force of a certain velocity, steps would life' taken" to cancel the running of trains for the time being. EXPERIENCE GAINED "Whether such an experiment would be useful in places in the Wairarapa will be considered by the department, but because of the localised nature ol wind forces and the erratic manner in which they make themselves felt, it is questionable whether such an instrument would serve any practically useful purpose. "The whole ..position .will have to be considered in the light of yesterday's experience and the travelling public can rest assured that no stone will be left unturned to make the passage of trains and rail cars as safe as human experience and knowledge can make it." The rail car was placed upright yesterday, but as the wind at 7 p.m. was almost as severe as at 7 a.m., the placing of the car on the line was delayed until the wind abates. Mr, G. T. Cole, who has resided near the scene of the accident for 16 years, said.that he never experienced a worse gale than that which raged yesterday morning. It was so bad that he had not allowed his children to go to school and he considered it worse than the hurricane of two years ago which did so much damage in the Wairarapa. He saw the rail car coming, along the line and was wondering how it could stand up to the blow when the accident happened. ABSENCE OF'SHOCK Mr. Mackley said a number of the passengers were surprised by the absence of shock when the car came to rest on its side after leaving the rails. They were also impressed by the structural strength of the car. "It was a terrible experience, said one passenger in the rail car. "The ear was lurching badly all the way along the plain, and the driver slowed down because of the high wind. We were going about 42 miles an hour when the car left the rails."

Another passenger said that the cai heaved off the line aud went over towards the road, sliding down the bank after it had struck on its side. The severity of the shock when the car was derailed is shown' by the fact that, one woman was thrown 'three seats ahead, and halfway out of the window, she said. SCREAMS OP CHILDREN There were a number of children in the car, and their screams increased the general confusion. One woman fainted. The confusion was naturally great but apart from the cries of the-children and the injured, there was nothing to suggest panic. "I bad au uneasy feeling that an accident would happen," said Miss Marjol'ie McKay, of Masterton, who was one of the passengers. "I was gripping on, to the side of the ear after we. left Featherston. When the wind hit us we heeled over gradually, and then I felt the whole carriage lift. There was no jolt before we hit the ground. As soon as we landed at the side of the railway line, I had a terrible fear thattlie railcar would catch fire, as • the. smell of petrol fumes was almost suffocating." Miss McKay and several other passengers praised the coolness of the guard and the driver, who although hurt, directed the rescue operations.