OPAPA TRAIN SMASH

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1925, Page 4

OPAPA TRAIN SMASH

I.NgUIUV COXTtXUHD

UY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPVP.tGm

WELLINGTON, October 0. The com mission of inquiry into the muse of the railway disaster :it Opapa resumed its sitting to-day. Eugene Casey, inspecting engineer of the inainteiiiince liraiudi of the Hailway Department, said he hail made ait inspection ot the Napier line personalis. t,m it was inspected in September last bv It. S. Kent, now divisional superintendent for the South Island. W it,u..is inspected the track near Opapa the morning after the derailment. South of tl;e damaged portion ot the track he found that tho sleepers and lastonings of the rails were in good condition, lie took measurements of the cant and slack of the curve at intervals of six feet for a distance of 1S(! feet and at intervals of til feet. 11, chains. So far ns the state of ike track was concerned he saw nothing likely to cause an accident, and n> sign of any obstruction on or near the line. (Icin’,o' Streeter. Inspector <d 1 ermanonr Way, said he inspected the permanent way about a week before lie accident, and saw noli ting wrong with it. He did not test the track, hut inspected it. as he walked over it. lie had had no particular difficulty with the curve on which the accident occurred. He had always looked on it as a first-class niece of track. George Bryce, locomotive foreman, at Nanier, stated that drivers said ii was quite an easy time-table, with the exception of one of the heavy grades mi the way from Napier to Wellington. ||e had examined the engine, and found nothing calculated In cause an accident. He had made a practice of frequently riding on trains round curves without ttie knowledge of tiedrivers so as to check the speed ot trains on curves, lie considered twen-ty-live miles an hour on these curves quite a sate speed. An experienced driver knew the speed he was going hy the motion of the train. James Forrester .Mackley, locomotive engineer lor the North Island, said he. knew the engine, which he inspeet.il alter the disaster. He overhauled it before it was used tor taking the Prince of Wales’s train during the tour of the Dominion. An examination after the accident showed no delect likely to have caused the derailment. Tilt' flanges of the tyres showed little or no wear, the brakes on the trains were well looked alter, anil were etfeetive.

The Commission adjourned till .Monday morning, when Professor Scott, late Professor of Engineering at (’ante! hury College, will give expert evidence as to the condition of the engine and track', and as to the speed at which the engine must have been going to mount the rail at the curve. One other witness w 777 he heard, and . the Commission will then adjourn sine ! dir* until the driver is well enough In appear.