INQUIRY INTO TRAIN TRAGEDY
Speed Described As Too High LONDON, October 4. The Perth-London express crashed on Sunday while changing from a fast line to a slow line, said the divisional superintendent of toe London, Midland and Scottish Railway (Mr J. W. Watkins) at the official inquiry into the disaster. Forty-one people were killed and 95 were injured. Mr Watkins said that, from - the appearance of the wreckage, it was estimated that the speed of the train over toe points was more than 50 miles an hour. It was difficult to know why the driver (Mr Sidney Swabey) had not reduced speed. Mr Swabey was a good, reliable man with 37 years’ excellent record.
An L.M.S. engineer gave evidence that the limit for crossing the points where the accident occurred was 20 miles an hour. The absolute maximum at which the train might safely have crossed the points was 40 miles an hour. The inquiry was adjourned.
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Southland Times, Issue 25796, 6 October 1945, Page 5
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157INQUIRY INTO TRAIN TRAGEDY Southland Times, Issue 25796, 6 October 1945, Page 5
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