RUNAWAY RAIL-CAR

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28261, 26 April 1957, Page 10

RUNAWAY RAIL-CAR

Inquiry To Be Held

An inquiry into the causes of two coupled Vulcan-type railcars getting out of control in the Otira tunnel on Tuesday night will be held in Christchurch next week. This was announced last night by the Minister of Railways (Mr J. K. McAlpine), who said aboard of inquiry comprising three senior railway officials and two service organisation representatives would be nominated tomorrow by the General Manager of Railways (Mr A. T. Gandell). Reports on the occurrence were being obtained, said Mr McAlpine. Each car was being very closely examined by technical experts. The district mechanical engineer in Christchurch, Mr E. M. Read, was at Otira, and would be joined tomorrow by the department’s chief mechanical engineer, Mr R. F. Black. “The incident involves the investigation of several highly technical matters,” said Mr McAlpine. “Until all aspects of the occurrence have been fully considered and reported on, it is not possible to make any worthwhile comment.’’ A preliminary investigation was carried out by the District Traffic Manager (Mr E. W. Hayton) immediately after the derailment. Use on Short Trip The class of rail-car involved had been taken off the West Coast-Christchurch run, but were still being used on shorter routes on the West Coast and as relief specials. The Vulcan, at present being examined, was only put on the longer route to handle Easter traffic, Mr Hayton said after the accident. Reports from Otira indicate that the rail-car was held at the station for almost 40 minutes before it entered the tunnel, because of some mechanical fault. A department spokesman said on Wednesday that the Vulcan rail-car involved in the accident was one of a consignment from England which was first put into service in 1939. This type, a 50passenger unit, had not previously caused any trouble, although its predecessors, which carried 30 passengers, had been troublesome. Praise for Crew Passengers in the rail-car were unstinted in their praise of the driver, Mr Max Wilson, of Wroxton terrace, Fendalton, and the guard, Mr G. Meagher. Both men were in the front compartment when the runaway occurred. When the brakes failed Mr Wilson decided to try to get into the rear units to apply its brakes. Both units were coupled in the ordinary way, with no direct access. Mr Wilson pushed himself through the rear window of the guard’s compartment, and then, with Mr Meagher gripping his feet, he hung down outside of the car and swung himself up to grasp hold of the back unit to get into the second car. His courageous effort was in vain, for the brakes in the other car were also ineffective.