RAILWAY SMASH.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1927, Page 2

RAILWAY SMASH.

COLLISIOX AT STILLWATER. GREY’MOUTH, April 2G. A serious Collision oeeured at Stillwater on Saturday evening, between a train from Blackball, and a mixed train, commonly known as “ The Cat,” hound for Christchurch. Shunting operations were in progress with the Christchurch-hound train, when the accident occurred- The engine had two carriages attached, and was in the act of shunting a truck, when the Blackball train, comprising four carriages, suddenly came in view, and crashed into the engine, which was moving slowly in the same direction, resulting in a head-on collision. The force of the impact derailed the engine of the Blackball train, and its cowcatcher was torn off, the latter being buried in the ballast alongside the rails. The driver and fireman escaped injury. The buffers of the two carriages forming part of the Christchurch train were severely buckled, as a result. of the terrific force with which they were jammed by the collision. T lie other portions of the carriages escaped damage. It was somewhat remarkable that not a single window in either of them was broken. The derailed engine was eventually jacked hack on to the. rails, hut a considerable amount of traffic was delayed before the line was again clear. “The Cat ” was due to reach Christchurch at 11 p.m., hut owing to the delay caused by the accident, this train did not arrive at its destination before 8 a.m. file following day. It is stated by railway officials that the collision was caused by the driver of flic Blackball train having failed to observe the signals. It is possible, however, that as the inter-locking signalling system has only recently been installed at' the Stillwater Junction, some defect in the new apparatus may he responsible for the accident.