MAIN TRUNK DISASTER.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13494, 13 June 1914, Page 6

MAIN TRUNK DISASTER.

THE INQFE-ST CONTINUED

SIGNAL INFORMATION GIVEN

[United Pbess Association.]

Auckland, Juno 12. * At the mo.in trunk disaster inquest several witnesses gave evidence in regard to the signals. Robert Boil, railway clerk, who tool? charge of aSairs at Whangarnarino after tlie acci^oii, s;:irt the signal worked very well ok tlie 27th after ho had adjusted it. U*\ found on testing the signal that tho tension was net correct. The arm wouki not drop properly, nor would it rutcru to "danger' i'tiily. He altered the tension^ and then the signal worked perfectly. . At 10.30 tnc ,s.arno night .Vie Jcund th ; > signal v/orJcin.o; well. Shortly after midnight the \>orter reported that he,could not see the back light c" the south signal. It was found showiiiij full grc-on, whereas it should have boon at "danger."He con<:tud*Ki that tl'.fl contraction oi' the wire |jy tke cold weather was such that it v/jis ur.uL-.ssit>}? to work the signal.

John" Cruiekthank, signal-syijaster, r-.uid that a.i>c-ut six months prior to the aoeiflont an additional wheel was placed at the signal. The wheels put in were not the same nizo a& thos-e taken out. ■He put on a 12 inch'flat wheel, and a 10 inch verikal wheel in placo of two 12 inch fiat v.heels, and added a running v-ertic&.l TT2eel of .in inch and a h*alf in diamat»r at the top'of the bank, v.hero thoiv'j "bad previously hsen no wheel at all. F.he wire running directly oti to tho post. Witness visited Whangiiuiarino agsiis on May 31st; and found that a one and a, half inch wheel had bi-en replace*! ]by an 8 inch wheel. The

reason for tho change-would bo to cause less friction.

Mr McMahon": "Do you nay .that an inch and a half wheel caused too much friction to allow the signal to work satisfactorily?" ''No, J don't. It worked all rudiL for sis months, but an 8-inch \vJk-«»1 would certainly cause loss friction."

' To Mr May,-, lie admitted tlmt instead of reporting Lhr alteration made at \Vhan»:unarinq in the ordinary journal lie should have made ■i\ special report on the matter. Ho agreed that the friction on the small inch and a hall, wheel would be considerable in the cold weather, but tho balance -on 'thp platform level would adjust that. As far as he could tell the signal worked just as easily after the alteration, which was in November last, as before it.

Mr'Frazor: "Have you ever seen a| one and a half inch wheol used permanently in such a situation ? "No, I have not. But it was all I had at the time." Replying to Mr Mays, witness, said he examined the signal a fortnight hefore the accident, and rece-ivod no complaint from the tablet porters. Witness added that he hud never done work similar to that bufore without notifying the inspector, and as tar as lie know"" the signals inspector did not see the work afterwards, lie admitted that the alteration did not comply with the circular statins that none other than standard materials - should he used in alterations. Iknry John Wynn, signalling sum electrical engineer, said that on June sth ho had the Whangamarmo signals put in exactly the same position as they •wore on tho night of tho accident. J he signal would then not work properly. The wire and fittings wore in good order. Uo noticed a small wheel and the chain when passing ovor it worked in an erratic manner. Tho reason was that the wheel was too small to allow the chain to work over it propsdy. I A number of other witnesses were | called, the inquiry continuing till late lin the evening.