MAIN TRUNK MISHAP

Southland Times, Issue 22999, 19 September 1936, Page 9

MAIN TRUNK MISHAP

INQUEST ON VICTIM

ESCAPE OF DRIVER AND FIREMAN (United Press Association.) Wellington, September 18. “I am satisfied that there was no negligence on the part of the Railways Department and that no blame attaches to the driver, who did everything possible to stop the train immediately the slip became visible. I congratulate the driver and fireman on escaping with their lives. Their escape was one of the most extraordinary features of the whole mishap,” said the Coroner (Mr E. Gilbertson) when adjourning till October 5 the inquest into the death of Arthur Frederick Bush, aged 80, a retired carpenter, of Blenheim. Medical evidence was given that deceased died from pneumonia and heart failure associated with shock resulting from the accident to the Main Trunk express near Paraparaumu on August 30. The Coroner said that he would be interested to hear the evidence of William Howell, a fanner, who attempted to stop the train, but who was indisposed and would not be available until early next month. His evidence, though interesting, would not, however, affect his opinion that neither the department nor the driver of the tram had been in any way negligent. The driver, Mr Wilsher, in evidence, said that visibility was bad owing to driving wind and rain. He saw the slip when rounding a bend. It was a train-length away and the train was going about 45 miles an hour. He immediately shut off steam and applied the emergency brakes. The distance was too short to stop the train. .No departure had been made from his vsual vigilance when driving a train. Had the slip occurred on a straight portion of the line it could have been avoided because of the lookout he was keeping. He did not see a man running across the paddocks in an endeavour to stop the train. Had the man been on the railway he would have seen him, as his whole attention was centred on the line. He had been familiar with the line for 25 years and it was not a place where a slip was to be expected.