“STONES ON LINE THEORY IS MERE EYEWASH.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18182, 15 June 1927, Page 1

“STONES ON LINE THEORY IS MERE EYEWASH.”

EXPERT SCOUTS THE DEPARTMENT’S THEORY. "Mere eyewash” was the description applied by an engine-driver of over forty years’ experience to the finding of the Railway Court of Inquiry that the Timaru derailment was caused by stones on the line. “This is not the first time,” he said, "at the same spot, that a derailment has occurred with the same class of engine. “Stones could not cause it even once, let alone twice. If a stone big enough to put a seventy-five-ton engine off the road could get under the cowcatcher the wheels would knock it off the line. I think the cowcatcher is only four inches above the rail. “I have driven an emergency train to Timaru and arrived with every window in the van smashed by flying stones. Stones are flying all day long, and going under the wheels all the year round. Why don’t they derail lighter trains? They can find crushed stones anywhere on the road. You witf find them every day of the year. I have run over thousands of stones. “If a b-ogey is derailed by stones there is not enough weight on the bogey. “This board of inquiry merely whitewashes the Department.”