TRAINS COLLIDE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1926, Page 3

TRAINS COLLIDE

A CAULFIELD TRAGEDY. Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received this day at 8 a.inA SYDNEY, May 27. While a passenger train from -Melbourne to Carriim was standing at the station at Caulfield Junction, a passenger train from Melbourne to Oakleigb crashed into the rear telescoping two end carriages. The passengers vcre thrown in all directions, and the •Ration strewn with debris. Details so far show that George Beamish who was in the rear compartment of the Car rum train was killed and twenty two other passengers injured, a nurn her seriously. A SECOND DEATH. MELBOURNE, May 26. Details of the Caulfield railway smash show in addition to Beamish, William DoJjery was also killed. Thirty people were injured, seven seriously. These '.are: —-Stanley Weeks, John Crank, Arthur Upton, John Buttle, Elsie Dean, Maxwell Gamble and Ethel Sarrienson. The collision occurred at 6.20 in the evening when Caulfiield was at its peace. But for the fact that the second ‘■rain was travelling at a reduced speed usual on drawing into a station, the casualty list must have been much 'renter. Both trains concerned were electric. Caulfield station is approached round a sharp curve and the view of the platform at which the collision occurred, is obscured Melbourne side by a signal box. The signals at Caulfield are worked manually. It is claimed that had they been automatic the accident would have been well nigh impossible. The force of the impact raised the rear portion of the second last carriage of the stationary train from the bogey so ‘hat the floor level was several feet above the platform, and the last carriage was driven through the first three compartments of that ahead of, it. The floor of the rear carriage was on a level with the seats of the preceding one. This caused many passengers to be injured about the legs. The compartments which were wrecked were reduced to a tangled mass of splintered wood and twisted metal. Difficulty was experienced in releasing the injured who were pinned bcstieath the wreckage. A large force of police and rf.ilwaymen and injured passengers worked hard in this task and crowbars, axes and saws had to be used to release some -