HURLED FROM RAILS

Evening Star, Issue 22465, 9 October 1936, Page 16

HURLED FROM RAILS

WIND OVERTURNS RAILCAR DANGER SPOT HEAR FEATHERSTOH [Pr. R United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, October 8. A representative of the Press Association at the scene of the accident to the railcar Alamari, which was hurled from the rails by a gust of wind near Koatlierston, said the railcar, after leaving the rails, ploughed its way about 25yds before coming to rest on its side. ’The permanent way was not damaged. .Blood-stained glass from the shattered windows was strewn over the grass, and pools of oil and grease marked the track of Hie ear from the rails. One window was splashed with yolks of eggs which a passenger had in his luggage. The condition of the injured is reported to ho satisfactory. 'They wore: Mrs -I. Hulmo. Short si root, blast erton, fractured right arm and ribs; Airs C. Collett, New Zealand Railways. Alaste.rt'Ui, fractured ribs; Aliss G. Knott, Kmipuni street, Alastorton, fractured right arm and ribs; Air A. S. Humber, South road Alasierton, cuts on left Jog; Aliss B. Phillips, 103 Bentley street, Masterion, injured finger; Airs A. H. Bull, Grey town, cuts on face; Mrs M. Moss, 20 Walton Avenue, Alastorton, cuts on lace and neck; Aliss P. Hedlcy, Gordon street, Lansdowne. cut nose. There were 26 passengers in all, and most of the remainder continued the Journey to Wellington in a steam train. The general manager of railways (Mr G. H. Alackley) said the cause of the accident was the velocity of the wind, which had come in an unexpectedly sudden gust. During a gale which blew with exceptional severity on a trial run sonic time ago a note was taken of the effect of the wind on the car’s performance and construction, and the Alamari was adjusted to make allowances for a severe gale by placing the centre of gravity low in the structure. This point in the run from Alasterton was a dangerous one, as a steam train was blown off the line some years ago. Tho desirability of lengthening the breakwiml was being investigated. The driver, Air Schroder, had been on the run for nine years. The railcar would be taken to Hip workshops for adjustment and repair.

Weight for weight, the ear was designed to stand up to a greater pressure of wind than an ordinary railway carriage. Mr Mackley referred to the despatch with which a special train was sent from Cross Creek with ambulance equipment. The accident occurred at 8.35 and the special train left at 5.59.

Mr G. T. Cole, who has resided near the scene of the accident for 16 years, said he had never experienced a worse gale than that which raged this morning. It was so bad that he had not allowed his .children to go to school, and he considered it worse than the hurricane of two years ago, which did so much damage in the Wairarapa. He saw the .railcar coming along the line, and was wondering how it could stand up to the blow when the accident happened. ■ Mr Mackley said several of the passengers were surprised by the absence of shock when tho_ car came to rest on its side after leaving the rails. They were also impressed by the structural strength of the car. PASSENGERS’ STORIES. “It was a triable experience,” said one passenger in the railcar, referring to the accident this morning. “ The car was lurching badly all the way along the plain, and the driver slowed down because of the high wind. We wore going at about 42 miles an hour when the car left the rails.” • Another passenger said the car heaved off the line and went over towards the load, sliding down the bank after,.it struck on its side. The severity of the shock when the car was derailed was shown by the fact that one woman was thrown three seats ahead and was halfway out of the window. There were a number of children in the car, and their screams increased the general confusion. One woman fainted. The confusion was naturally great, but, apart from the cries of the children and the injured, there was not anything to suggest panic. “ I had an uneasy feeling that an accident would liapi on,” said Miss Marjorie MfKay, of Masterton, who was one of the passengers in the Mamari. “I was gripping on to the side of the car after wo left Fcatberston, and when 1 lie wind hit ns we heeled over gradually, and then 1 felt the whole carriage lift. There was no jolt before wo bit the ground. As soon as wo landed at the side of the railway line I had a terrible fear that the railcar would catch fire. The smell of petrol fumes was almost suffocating.” Miss M‘Kay and several other passengers praised the coolness of the guard and the driver, who, although hurt, directed the rescue operations.