THE RAILWAY SMASH.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1926, Page 3

THE RAILWAY SMASH.

cause of accident .unknown. [Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] •SYDNEY, June 11. Following is the official list of those dead through the rnilwi.iy disaster:— H. C. White, Canterbury: Slimou Maiisour, Waterloo, Miss Barbara Dal/ell Rockhampton; ami a man mu yet identified. Thirty-three were injured.

The driver of the leading engine, who Rid a narrow escape from death; said his engine would have fallen o'er, but the main engine pulled the drawbar right out of liis engine, and, although it lost its tender wheels, the pilot engine never left the road. Me added that if the train had been composed of ordinary passenger cars, there would have been hardly any survivors. As it was the special steel-frame ears did not buckle, thus saving many lives. The reason for the train’s leaving the rails is unknown. Officials emphasised the fact that the accident was not caused through the viaduct collapsing. The train had passed a wooden viaduct, which is /.'bout tour hundred feet from a steel bridge that spans the River Hunter, when it ledt the line and ploughed up the permanent. way. seriously damaging the viaduct. A single line runs across the viaduct and the bridge, and slopes down tov.l arils the river, but the grade js slight- and the line is straight. The Minister of Works and Railways states that apparently, the derailment occurred before the viaduct was reached.

The question of the safety cf wooden v’('ducts was raised in the New South Wales Assembly in December last, when the Commissioner of Railways stated he had adopted a bridge of a standard design, .composed of brick, masonry or concrete with a steel superstructure, which bridges were replacing the wooden bridges, os the latter got out of repair. A report on the disaster is being prepared for the Commissioner. the injured. , (Received this day at 9.0 n.m.) SYDNEY, June I*2. It is reported that a woman so far unidentified succumbed to injuries rereived in the tniin disnstei. \\iiii Morgiiu and Peter Hopkins are in a critical condition. Miss Marie Burke is also reported to be serious.