PAPATOETOE TRAIN SMASH

Chronicle (Levin), 19 October 1946, Page 5

PAPATOETOE TRAIN SMASH

~ Press Association

ENGINE DRIVER AND FIREMAN FOR TRIAL

By Teltgraph-

AUCKLAND, Uct. ii. ' ' I looked at my watch at two minutes to 12 and looned at the starting signal controlling my departiire. It was showing two reds. Just then 1' saw the traip No. 141, approachin^ from the front and 011 the same line as 1 wa.on. The engine was about two cai letigths from the front of my engine. 1 called to my fireman to get out quiekly, and 1 leapt out the the righthand side of my cab," said Fredericlc William Wilson, engine driver, giving evidence in the Police Court this morning in the continuation of the case concerning the train crash at Papatoetoe railway sta tion on August-24. Wilson, who was the driver of tlu stationary train, which was struek head 011 by tlie other train, said he could 1101 sav wliat speed the train number 141 was travelling at the time and the distance was too short to form an opinion. After the impact he climbed on to the step of the cab of train 141 and saw the accused, Dickson, sitting 011 the driver 's seat. Dickson assured him that iie (Dickson) was all right. Dickson appeared to have a eut above the right eye. Dickson 's fireman, Illsley, was also bleeding from a cut. Both engines were severelv damaged. Witness said he thought the visibility was overeast at the time. Willfam Butcher, railway department engineer, said Dickson had 28 years ' service with the department. The stationary train was forced back 57 feet by the collision. Witness was unable" to find evidence that Dickson used sand to assist him to stop the train which was the usual practice adopted under such circumstanecs. The loco^ niotive (lriven by accused had been overhauled in Februarv and was in good order. After the collision witness fouml Ihe emergeney brake applied but could not say whetiier it had been put tliere by Dickson or had moved in the accident. TE it had been applied before the accident witness would have expected to find lieavy distinet skid marks 011 ihe railhead but no such marks were I'ound. He was unable to find evidence of Dickson having used sand on the rails to assist tlie emergeney stop. The Hiithorised speed for trains between Mangere crossing. and Papatoetoe was 50 miles an liour and it. was estimated tlie average speed of Train 141 had been about 371 miles an hour. It would lie hard to estimate the speed of Ihe train at tlie time of the impact but he was satisfied it was stopping. "It was Ihe duty of both Dickson and Illsley to "heck the signals as they approaclie.fl Papatoetoe.," said witness. "If there had been any doubt the train should have been stopped." Tests to prove ihe driver 's visibility of the signals were described by witness. It had been proved that at 110 time was tlie stationary train visible from the driver 's side of tlie engine owing to Ihe height of the side tanks. Both accused oleaded not guiltv and were committed to the Blipreme Court for trial.