MUNGAROA RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3237, 16 April 1900, Page 3

MUNGAROA RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

DEPARTMENTAL ENQUiKY. Per Preaa Association. WELLINGTON, April 14. At the Departmental enquiry into the Mungaroa railway accident, George Smith, driver of the wrecked train, said that the engine brakes were applied as provided by the regulations. The line was very greasy, and he found the train was sliding gradually away. He endeavoured to stop the train at tha usual place to enable the wagon brakes to be applied, but was unable to do so, and could not understand why the van brakes did not pull him up. He whistled for brakes half way down the steep gradient. He had not done so before, as the speed was nothing great. The maximum speed attained was not more than #5 miles. It was safe to take a train such-as that on the day of the accident down the gradient if the usual precautions were taken. He had every confidence m the guards, Barrett and Hicks, but there must have been something wrong when they did not get the brakes on. If they had the train could easily have been stopped. He thought it safe to have the guard's van m the middle of the. train, as at some curves near the vicinity of the accident the driver is unable to see the rear of the irain. He put the steam brake on and reversed the engines when he found the train was slipping away. One truck jumped from the line a mile and a half further on, and after it fell on the side the couplings of the wagons next the engine broke, and the whole of the trucks began to pile up. He had known slight accidents happen at the spot on three occasions. J. G. Barrett, guard of the train, said tbat he applied the brakes of the van, but finding that the train did not stop he ran and let down the brakes of three wagons. This did not appear to have any effect m decreasing the speed. He never heard any whistle for brakes, and was unaware that the train was slipping away when he applied the brakes, but thought the driver was having a difficulty m pulling up. The van brakes were m good order, and it was safe to bring any train down the hill which the engine could pull across the flat at Mungaroa. He was physically fit for work, and did not say to the last witness that had he been more fit for work he would have got more brakes down. He had been ill before the accident, but had had a spell. Alexander Allan, fireman, said that when the engine brakes were put on, on the other side of Kaitoke, the wheels skidded, but they weregoingat not more than four miles, and there was nothing to hinder the brakesmen putting down the brakes, The driver shut off steam earlier j

than usual on the day of the accident. This wiinesß corroborated Smith's evidence, but thought the loads which had been brought down lately were too heavy, and did not think it safe to have fifty wagons on with one engine when the road waß so curvey. When the steam was shut off they were half a mile from the top of the grade. He heard Barrett say that if he had been all right he could have done something more towards stopping the train. Peter C. Smith, wagon inspector, said that the vehicles and brakes were m good order. John Niekle, a driver, said that he had brought 67 trucks down, and it was safe to do so as long as the regulations were carried out. 8. Rill, stationmaster at Kaitoke, said that the train was moving a little slower than usual, when it passed Kaitoke. C.Koch, district engineer, said that the scene of the accident was m a curve, and the grade was lin 46. The curve was so sharp that the front end of the bogie carriage would be barely off one curve before the rear end was on the other. This witness and others said that the road was m good order. T. Peterkin, locomotive superintendent, said that the driver should»have had no difficulty m pulling up if he had taken the extra precautions necessary. The enquiry was adjourned for the evidence of Hicks, the guard injured m the accident. The latter, who is m the hospital is still m a critical condition.