RAILWAY CARS

Southland Times, Issue 22994, 14 September 1936, Page 11

RAILWAY CARS

DESIGN AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION BEHAVIOUR IN MISHAP (Special to The Times.) Wellington, September 12. References at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to the construction of railway cars, in the light of the accident at Paraparaumti on August 30, were commented upon by Mr G. H. Mackley, General Manager of Railways. He said that he heartily agreed with the remarks of Mr S. CoryWright, and considered it fortunate that in this case the leading ear was of wooden-body construction. “The circumstances of the accident indicate that had the car been of allsteel construction the body would not have been thrown clear,” said Mr Mackley. “As it was, the force of the blow was sufficient to carry the roof and opposite side completely off the car clear of the passengers, allowing the car to remain on its wheels and run clear of the engine. The cars immediately following were little damaged, many of the passengers not being aware that a derailment had taken place. Practice in England. “In England both steel and wooden cars are in use, but there is a difference of opinion about which is the better form of construction, and there is a tendency to revert to the wooden construction. One of England’s latest trains, the Silver Jubilee, which is, incidentally, one of the fastest trains in the world, has cars of similar construction to the latest type used in New Zealand, this construction consisting of steel anti-collision ends with steel panels attached to wooden framework, the car under-frame being entirely of steel construction, entirely welded. “The leading car, which took the full force of the blow at Paraparaumu, was not of the latest construction in that the anti-collision ends were not provided, but it is doubtful, in view of the peculiar nature of the circumstances, if steel anti-collision ends would in any way have minimized the effects of the accident. “Considering the speed of the train at the time of the accident and the fact that the slip had formed what was practically a solid bank, the manner in which the rolling stock stood up to the strain was a striking testimony to the design and method of construction followed and the faithful workmanship which is typical of New Zealand railway standards;”

At the meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr S. Cory-Wright, speaking as an engineer, said it was “marvellously fortunate’’ in the recent accident that the first car was a wooden one and that the whole roof lifted. It was an unusual accident, and wooden construction was perhaps to the good. The department was using steel frames as much as possible on the main expresses now.