ENORMOUS SPEED OF THE TRAIN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2151, 6 August 1907, Page 3

ENORMOUS SPEED OF THE TRAIN.

ROTORUA, August. 5. Tho runaway train attained a speed of over 70 miles an hour after passing Ngatira. The first dangerous curve was safely passed, awl Lowe said:—“lf we get round the noxt we are all right,” but it warthere the crash occurred. The guard’s van suffered most, being stood on end. The brakes wore jammed on at tho start. THE. INQUEST. AUCKLAND, August 4. A jury was empanelled this morning for the inquest on tho guard who lost his life in the Rotorua railway accident. Before taking evidonce they proceeded to tho scene of the disaster. The grade down which the tram ran is for tho most part one in thirty-five. At Bell’s Siding where tho metals were left, there is an S curve. ROTORUA, August 5. Tho Coroner and jury visited the scene of the railway accident to-day. The inquest into the cause of the death of Guard Lowe commences at eight to-night. Further particulars show that the accident happened two miles from the water tank between Ugatira and Arihiur. Tho train consisted of two engines, two guard’s vans, a passenger carriage and twenty-eight trucks. When ascending tho hill the second

engine appeared to bo dragging. ■* The train was pulled up and Taylor, driver of the first engine uncoupled the guard’s van which was next, to the second engine, previously applying the brakes to several of the trucks as well as to the van. The

first engine then steamed ahead slightly drawing the second behind it with a view of ascertaining any defect. The second engineer then noticed the trucks and vans moving, and the whistle was blown to put on the brakes. The engines immediately followed after the trucks but failed to keep pace with them.. A distance of six and a quarter miles was covered before the trucks left the line which was at a sharp curve. The guard’s van at the rear shot clean over the bank and fell on its side. Lowe, the guard, was killed, his forehead being smashed in and his head badly battered. A large truck stood end on and the passenger carriage was half buried into the ground only sufficient space being available for the passengers to crawl from under the roof. It kept intact and thus saved their lives. The coal trucks and other trucks containing lime and hay and several cattle trucks were all piled one on top of the other, some being broken to splinters. The guard’s vjtn, which was next the engine, fell on its side. Forty-five cattle were killed and thirty-seven were saved. Coal and hay took fire. Between Putaruru and Mamaku there is a rise of twelve hundred feet. The accident took place at a. steep grade about half way between the two places. The whole of the rolling stock was smashed to pieces. The three men injured are doing fairly well. Kingdon is • now partly conscious but rambles in his speech. A gang of men is at work on the wreckage. A considerable quantity of hay has been saved.

There is no explanation so far as to why the brakes failed to act. The passengers assert that the brakes applied by the guards were perfectly cool, they also say the trucks attained a speed of 80 miles an hour. Very little damage was done to i the line The goods and express trains passed through all right to-day. The passengers who were on hoard arc merely suffering from nervous shock The damage is estimated at about five thousand pounds. It is estimated that the train weighed about 230 tons. All these trucks broke away and went’ over the embankment.