Fatal Railway Accident in the North.

Manawatu Herald, 6 January 1898, Page 2

Fatal Railway Accident in the North.

AWFUL DEATH OF A FIREMAN A railway accident occured on the K'-iipara railway on Monday. A train w'th six carriages lefc Kmohi at 10 85 a.m. for Helensville. On approaching Goodwin's bridge, 2£ miles south of Kaukapakapa, the eugine left the rails, turning completely over and rolled down an em banktnent into a ditch. The two following carriages alao went with it. The third dragged at right angles across the line, and the fourth was considerably damaged. Fireman Barker, aged 80, got pinned by the leg under the engine. The escaping steam played on him and he died before he could be released. Driver Neville jumped off the engine and miraculously escaped death. None of the passengers are reported to be hurt. The Hon. E. Mitchelson was on the train. The theory of the accident is that heat caused the expansion of the rails, which resulted in " buckling," as in the Pahiatue accident. , On the return journey, when 30 yards away from the scene of the accident, Driver Neville saw the rails " buckle." He immediately shut off steam and called to the fireman to put on the brakes. This was immediately done, but as the train was going 15 miles an hour it was impossible to bring her up in in time, and the train was derailed as already mentioned.