SHUNTING ACCIDENT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1925, Page 1

SHUNTING ACCIDENT

TWO AIEN KILLED. [by TELCO It Am FEE FIIESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, "Dec. 2:3. Two railway .surface men were killed and a third received injuries to his head, through being knocked down by a shunting train at Newmarket at about a quarter past two this atteriiooii. The accident occurred on what i- known as the “hack-shunt ' portion of the line, along which trains shunt backwards from Newmarket Station before proceeding along the Kaiapara line. The names of the killed arc; John William Holland, married, aged FI, of Remucra. He is stated to have a grown-up family. Richard George Dumorth, married, aged of), of Kinsland. He is stated to have a grown-up family. T he injured man is Arthur Skeen, married, who lives in one of the Railwnv cottages beside the line. His injuries are not regarded as serious. He has a family of two sons and a daughter. The three men were members of a gang which was employed in repairing" the track of the “hack-shunt.” They were working under the supervision of a ganger, who was absent for a few moments. Ho. was returning and was about 30 yards from the men when he noticed a train, which consisted of about ton trucks and an engine with no van. It was travelling comparatively slowly, tie shouted to the men. hut it is doubtful Wilier he was heard. At the same time lie signalled to the driver of the train hut was not noticed. The men appeared to straighten up just as the train was upon them, but whether they heard the ganger’s shout is not known. Skeen is the only one who managed to save ilis life, but it is not clear why he was more fortunate than the others. The bodies of Harlaml and Ditmortli were terribly mutilated. the train having passed right over them lie fore coming to a standstill. Deatli must have been instantaneous in carli

The train by which the men wore knocked down was a regular daily shunting train from Newmarket lo Alount Eden. All the men were supplied with time-tables, showing the times which trains were expected. There was no one on the back of the train at- the time, as it was regarded as lining engaged in purely shunting operations within the yards. The shunter was travelling in the slip of the engine to change the points when the “hack-shunt” was completed. AY hen the train commenced to run Forward again, if would he outside the yards, and he would travel on the last waggon. Other gangs of men were employed on the other two sides of the triangle, of which the hack shunt forms the base. The spot where the accident occurred is regarded as dangerous, as trains run backwards along this part of the line, and the sound of their approach is apt to he drowned by the mise of the timber mill on one sid ■> and of the passing trains on the other. The three men were all experienced in ihe chi's of work which they were engaged. Harland and Dilmorth were casual surfacemen, but had previously be ii permanently employed by the "Railway Department, and had had experiaii;e extending over about 20 years. Skeen was a permanent surfaceman, and also had long experience.