Engine Crashed Downhill Into Passenger Carriage.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18467, 19 May 1928, Page 1

Engine Crashed Downhill Into Passenger Carriage.

ELEVEN PEOPLE INJURED WHEN BRAKES FAILED ON DANGEROUS INCLINE. Per Press Association. •GISBORNE, May 19. ELEVEN passengers out of 25 who were aboard when the train left Gisborne yesterday afternoon for Motuhora were injured in an accident on the Otoko Hill about 8 o’clock last night. Generally, the injuries were of a minor nature, but two men were .brought back to Gisborne and admitted to Cook Hospital at 3.30 a.m.

The names of the injured are:— Worst Cases. R. Whitson, of 13. Norana Avenue, ; Remuera, Auckland, engineer, ruptured vein on hip, facial injuries, and conj cussion A. J .Campbell, of Opotiki, settler, concusion. Minor Injuries. F. \Y. Marshall, of Patutahi. badly jarred and abrasions on the right knee. G. A. Ross, 31, Lyndhurst Street, Gisborne, slight briiise on the head. P. H. Whittington, of Motu, slight bruise on the left hip. Harry Maxwell, 13, Stanley Road, Gisborne, cuts on the lipV. P. Fredericks, of Rakauroa, slight bruise on the head. V. Oman, Grey Lynn, Auckland, abrasions of the left leg. Mrs V. P. Fredericks, of Rakauroa, ruptured muscles of the left shoulder. Mrs B. J. Climo, of Motuhora, cuts on the head and a bruised left leg, Mrs T. L. Barker, of Motuhora, ruptured muscles of the back. Greasy Rails. The mishap was due to the heavy rain, and consequent greasy nature of the rails. All went well as far as Otoko Hill, which has been the cause of frequent trouble to the Railway Department. Th© train comprised four trucks, laden with general merchandise, cars, etc., two passenger carriages and a guard’s van. The engine-driver made strenuous efforts for three-quarters of an hour to ascend the hill, and it was then decided to follow the common practice and divide the train. The engine, which was of the W2 class, drawing four trucks, reached the top oi the hill, left the trucks there, and then descended for the carriages and guard’s van. Coming down the hill again, the wheels of the engine would not grip on the greasy rails, and, despite the fact that the driver applied the brakes, the engine crashed, bunker first, into the leading stationary carriage. The guard of the train was Mr A. F. Bird, and the driver Mr B. J. Penberthy. Suffered Shock. It was a terrible shock for. the passengers, who were thrown : in jumbled heaps about .the carriages. The

lights immediately went out, and the shrieking of women and children added to the general panic. A moment previously they had been chaffing one another about the long wait, the next moment was all confusion. Gradually order was restored, and the true state of affairs revealed. Fortunately for the passengers the brakes of the cariages had been securelylocked, and they held against the strain of the engine’s crash. Had the brakes given way (since the smash occurred some distance up the hill), the carriages would have been swept downhill,*and probably jumped the rails, bringing about a far more terrible smash. The foremost carriage was buckled throughout its length, and the forward platform almost flattened up' against the carriage end.’ Evidence of buckling was_ given by the smashing of a wash-basin in the centre of the carriage, and the partial squeezing together of the seats. The second carriage did not suffer. nearly so mlich, but its occupants suffered in a hardly, less degree than those of the first carriage. Relief Train. The front of the engine suffered slight damage, being badly dented, and having some heavy couplings snapped Off, Mrs Vivian Oman, of Auckland, came in for special praise from all passengers for her work after the crasjh. Relief gangs were despatched from Rakauroa, and a train was sent out from Gisborne with a doctor and nurses, the scene of the accident being reached at 11.30. Everything possible was done to relieve the sufferers before the arrival of the relief train. The first carriage had been taken back to Rakauroa by the original engine. The relief engine, on arrival, pushed the remainder of the train to Rakauroa and then took all except the badlyinjured in a carriage on to Motuhora, while the damaged engine came back to town with the relief party and the injured men, Campbell and Whitson, who were taken to hospital.

ANOTHER HOSPITAL CASE. Per Pres* Association. GISBORNE, May 19. Mrs T. L. Barker, of Motuhora, who was injured in the railway accident, was sent to hospital to-day.