PICTON LOCO MEN’S EVIDENCE ON SEDDON RAILWAY ACCIDENT

Grey River Argus, 9 April 1948, Page 3

PICTON LOCO MEN’S EVIDENCE ON SEDDON RAILWAY ACCIDENT

BLENHEIM, April 8 At the inquiry into the Seddon train smash, Benjamin Rhodes, an engine-driver, stationed at. Picton, said he* had always considered the curve where the crash occurred as the worst on the section. It. would be dangerous to a strange driver. He had suggested soon after the line was opened that the department might straighten the curve to IB chains and an engineer had taken a note of the suggestion. Witness also criticised the position and colour of the warning board before the curve. He agreed that a speedometer might be useful to a new or inexperienced driver. Asked about the Blenheim-Seddpn time-table, witness said he was of the opinion that for a full load the time was a little bit tight. It was. he thought, the only schedule that had not been revised. He did not think there were many drivers who at some time or other had not over-l’un a station, , . To a question as to a driver s right to object, to taking a train over an unfamiliar route; witness said that, he I'clt that way about a trip he certainly would tell his loreman. Cecil William Bryan, fireman and acting-engine-driver, of Picton. said he had prepared the engine for train 1.04 and it. was in first-ciass order. The curve where the crash occurred should be treated with the greatest,, caution. Norman Harry Jellym?.n, fireman and acting-engine-driver, of Picton. agreed that the. 1 engine was in good order. William Hall Elliott said he drove the engine from Chrisr.cfturch to Picton on February 23. It had performed well. “You have ‘had it’ every time you get home,” replied witness to a question as to shifts. Witness did not. think acting-drivers were now driving expresses at Kalkouiyt. They were taken off the same week as the accident occurred. The drivers were now working on two rosters. At the time of the accident they were' working on one.