A RAILWAY MISHAP

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 15, 3 October 1929, Page 6

A RAILWAY MISHAP

DEATH OF FIREMAN AUCKLAND, Oct. 2. A verdict of accidental death by scalding was returned at the inquest on Cyril Tercival George Hobbs, >u young man employed as a fireman by the .Public Works Department, on Westfield railway deviation, who was severely scalded while working an engine and died on 'September H>. Arthur William Everest, driver of the engine, said that the engine was proceeding in reverse, pushing lj vC tiptrucks, the truck next to the engine being loaded with .timber. Approaching Panmure station the train was stopped near a bridge to pick up a number of trucks and witness alighted to conpic up, leaving deceased in charge of the engine. Witness heard a rush of steam and ran back to the engine. Ho then saw that a cement-mixing board on the truck next to the engine had been forced through the woodwork of the cab; pinning deceased against the reversing gear, while it had broken a pipe on the boiler allowing the steam direct from the boiler to escape. Witness rescued deceased. Trevor Edward Lambert, who loaded the truck, admitted that ho knew tiro screen was on the line, but, thought it would be clear of the board. The train was going at only about two miles an hour at the time and the extreme edge of the board caught an upright on the screen. This was the first train ho had loaded to pass the screen, which ho had not passed previously.