Safety Speeds On Railway Curves

Chronicle (Levin), 10 April 1948, Page 5

Safety Speeds On Railway Curves

Press Association)

(Per

BLENHEIAT, April 9. The Board of Inquirv into the Seddon rail disaster . concluded its Blenheim sitting to-day and adjourned to Christchurchv . Resuming his evidence George Stuart James Reid, inspecting and test engmeer, said that assuming the engine was travelling at 45 m.p.h. .when the drivef sighted the curve warning board, and allowing for reaction time, the driver should have been able to reduce speed to 30 m.p.h. in 290 yards. If the s(3eed was 55 m.p.h. the distance would have been 545 yards. The maximum speed for the curve was 30 m.p.h. "which allow-ed a wide safety margin. The engine should be able to negotiate the curve at 45 m.p.h. To Air. 'Wild, witness said there were no rail markings at the scene which did not fit in with the deductions he had made. ■ Air. Wild: The whole thing fits like a glov^e — there are 110 strings unti'ed. Witness: Precisely. On the question-of speed indicators witness said the Department had made a number of attempts to devise satisfactory equipment and extensive tests now being carried out were based on these. Air. Wild: The total number ordered since 1941 has been 48. Witness.' The diffieulty has been to get overseaS manufacturers to accept our orders. Witness fully agreed that test indicators were desirable. To the final question by Air. Wild, witness said that by his reference to speed being grossly^excceded lie meanc the difference between the overturning speed -of 52.3 m.p.h. and the authoriscd speeds of 45 m.p.h. on the straight and 30 m.p.h. on a curve. In a written statement to thes"Boarq, Hanley Rex Iiobson, engineer student of Blenheim, who was injured in tlie smash, said he thought he would. ne the passenger nearest the front of tlie train. Looking forward he noticed nuthing abnormal about the speed. "As wg hit the curve I was looking through the glass door of the carriage. I noticed Xo. 1 carriage lurch violently and then Xo. 2 carriage started to break up." Robson had no compJaint in anv vvav in regard to the manner i-n whicli fie was treated after the accident. 1