Fireman's Story Of Train Disaster

Chronicle (Levin), 8 April 1948, Page 5

Fireman's Story Of Train Disaster

BLENHEIAI, April 7: The drivev of tlie Soutli lsland maia i mu k . express whicli was (lerailed near Seddon on February 25, liad been on duty for about eight houis when he ami Ihe liremaii took over 'the express at f uaniarina for tlie run back to Kaikoura. 1'p to tliat stage they had had a nreak of only 10 to 15 liiinutes and would, have had no furtlier spell until thev reaehed Kaikoura. These. statements were given iu evidenee today at ihe Boaru ot lmjuii\ by the iirenian, Edward Donald Blact burn, who agreed, umler cross exaniination, tliat a drivcr taking over the express in tliese circumstances, would have some degree of fatigue. AVitness said that 011 February 25 he aiul Gurr were booked to run a . ggod-i train till it crossed with No. 104. Tliere had been a lot of hani shimting liefore tliev got awav, and tliev had not lsit till'atter 5 a.m. Dwing 10 tlie late sta.i ihe c rosslng place was clianged fro u Koromik') to Tuamarina. • When Gurr had come 011 duty at 2 a.m. he appeared to be in liis usual health. Gurr was (leliiiilely a ltian of sober liabits. Witiiess .said that until they got to tlie ii[)-home signal at Blenheim he tliouglit the train 's speed would be nboiit 45 miles an liour. Tlie run tu Seddon was normal. aiul the train had been s'topped exactly at the water tanks. Describing the crash the fireman said: "I remember my elhow hitting the sido of the cutting. After that everything seemed to happen at once. The engine seemed to stop nearly dead. There was a. sheet' of fiame, and a cloucl of steam, and it seemed to get, particularly dark. I rememher seeing what seemed to he like arms and legs coming out of the air and passing over me — the whole thing at first seemed like a nightmare." To Air. Ciinninghani, witnes said that lie tliouglit the arms and legs lielonged to Gurr. He had been cauglit up by the leg. He remembered tliinking that he would not be alile to get out. Ilowever, J liis leg had then conie free and he clambered out 011 to the coal bunker. He knew the brakes had been applieil, because he had Jieard the brakes' exluuist. It had seemed an ordinary ap Iplieation of tlie brakes. It was certainlc not :in eniergeiicy one. j Witness said that he had notieed nothing unusual in tlie traift's speed at 'Seddon. Gurr had mentioned that tio1 train was six minutes late, "but we eonsidered we were doing all rigiit u]' to that point." The lireman said tliat between 2 a.m. and I) a.tn. they had had 110 refresh meuts, and 110 break ofi' duty. He had liad a cup of tea at Blenheim, which had passed for lirea'kfast and lunqh. The break at Blenheim lasted from 10 to 15 niinutes. 'Wlien the express was taken over' Gurr had? been on duty eight hours, ' except fpr 10 "minutes, The noxt break 'wbidd liave been ai Kaikoura after they had put tlie engine away. That would liave been about 2 o'eloek in the afternoon. Blackburn agreed that he found himself tired after an eight-hour shift. There would be a little strain in driving an engine and some phvsical elfort was involved. Tlie driver taking over tlie express would have some degree oi' fatigue. The drivers brought tlieir own lunelies aiul what a driver had to eal depended 011 what he brought.