WOODEN RAILWAY VIADUCT COLLAPSES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume LVIII, Issue 12, 11 June 1926, Page 5

WOODEN RAILWAY VIADUCT COLLAPSES

SYDNEY-BRISBANE TRAIN MEETS DISASTER.

FIVE KILLED AND THIRTY INJURED.

Press Association—Copyright. (Received 8.50 a.m.) SIDNEY, June 11. Owing to the collapse of a wooden viaduct between Togar and Aberdeen, about 180 miles north of Sydney, the Brisbane’ express, which left Sydney yesterday afternoon, was derailed shortly before midnight. Five were killed and over thirty injured, seme critically. Medical aid was sent from Scone and Muswillbrook. Th© injured who were able to be : moved were sent to hospital at those places. Details at present are meagre.

THEATRICAL COMPANY AMONG THE PASSENGERS. ROLL OF KILLED EXPECTED TO BE ADDED TO. (Received Noon.) SYDNEY, June 11. Among the passengers in the wrecked train were the J. C. Williamsons’ Katja company of between thirty and forty members. Mr Ward Morgan was the only one seriously injured. Several others, including Miss Marie Burk«- leading lady, were slightly injured nr are suffering from shock. Many passengers were asleep at the time of the disaster. In conseauence of the darkness and the complete nature of the wreck it was hours after the smash before the victims were recovered from the wreckage. The latest official message at four o’clock this morning gives the number of killed at seven, but K> is expected that the casualty roll will be increased when all are extricated. An unofficial message states that eight were killed. . THE NAMES OF THE DEAD. PART OP THE TRAIN KEPT ON THE TRACK. CASUALTIES MINIMISED THEREBY. (Received 9.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 11. Those killed in the railway accident are 1 : Miss B, Dalziell, of Toowoomba, Queensland. Mrs Bennett, of Mosman, Sydney. Fyhran Monsour, a Syrian. A man named White, of Queensland. An unidentified man. The critically injured are; Ward Morgan McTor, who had -- 1 both legs broken. Mrs Alice Nicholls, of Manly, Queensland.

The train consisted of two engines, a van and seven carriages. There were .143 passengers aboard. An official statement shows that the leading engine and four carriages went off the line and the assisting engine toppled on its side. The accident was caused by three spans of the wooden viaduct collapsing when the train was passing over it. ' ....... . The viaduct crosses a ravine twen-ty-five fdet deep. The first engine crossed in safety, but the viaduct collapsed under the second engine and the first carriage. The engine crashed into the ravine, followed by the next two carriages. It was fortunate that the first engine and the third carriage kept the track, thus prevently further wreckage and additional casualties. The viaduct is within a short distance 1 of the Hunter River. Owing to the darkness the work of rescuing the Injured proved very difficult, and the searching of the debris had to bo suspended for some time after one o’clock this morning, when the rescue parties built camp fires and awaited the dawn. The passengers travelling in the second-class carriage l which was next to the engine appeared tb have suffered most. The carriage was split in two. One part still standing and the other overturned Most of the dead were found in this carriage. The fourth carriage was tilted down through the viaduct. Appalling scenes were witnessed after the disaster. Flares, motor-car head-lamps and other methods of illumination were used to throw light on the wreckage.

Some people were so seriously Injured that they could not he moved from the spot. Those less seriously hurt, aftei treatment at hospital were accommodated in private houses. The permanent way was torn and twisted. The driver and fireman of the second engine had remarkable escapes. Both were buried beneath the coal when the engine overturned. The fireman suffered a broken jaw and the driver minor injuries and shock. CONTRADICTORY REPORTS. (Received 1.55 p.m.) SYDNEY. June 11 The reports of the railway accident are most contradictory. The latest eiv© four killed. It is now stated that Mr Bennett is not killed, and only slightly injured'.