BRISBANE EXPRESS SMASH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 14 June 1926, Page 9

BRISBANE EXPRESS SMASH.

LIST OF KILLED AND INJURED. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Australian and - N.Z. Cable Association SYDNEY, Juno 11Tile official list of dead in the railway disaster is: H. O. White (Canterbury, Queensland) . Slimon Mansour, an Assyrian (AA’aterIoo). Aliss Barbara Dalzell (Rockhampton). A mail not yet identified. Thirty-tlireo were injured. It is reported that a woman, so far unidentified, lias succumbed to injuries received in tho train disaster. AA’arde Morgan and Peter Hojikins aro in a critical condition.. Miss Marie Burke is also reported to be in a serious condition. The driver of the leading engine, who had a miraculous escape from death, said his engine won id have fallen over, but the main engine pulled the drawbar right out of his engine, and although it lost its tender, the wheels of tile pilot engine never left tho road. He added that if tho train had been composed of ordinary passenger cars there would have been hardly any survivors. As it was, tlie special steel frame cars did not buckle, thus saving many lives. The reason for the train leaving tho . rails is unknown. Officials emphasise the fact that the accident was not caused through the viaduct collapsing. The train liad passed tlie viaduct which is about 400 ft. from a steel bridge that spans tho river Hunter when it left the line and ploughed up tho permanent way, seriously damaging the viaduct. A single lino runs across the viaduit and bridge, and slopes down towards the river, but the grade is slight and the line is straight. The Minister of AVorks and Railways states that apparently the derailment occurred before the viaduct was reached. Tlie question of the safety of wooden viaducts was ‘raised in the Assembly in December last, when the Commissioners of Railways stated that they had adopted a bridge of standard design, composed of brick masonry or concrete, with steel superstructure, ■which were replacing wooden bridges as tlie latter got out of repair. A report of the disaster i.s being prepared for the Commissioner.