MAIN TRUNK DISASTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2610, 24 July 1923, Page 2

MAIN TRUNK DISASTER.

EVIDENCE AT AUCKLAND.

ENGINE DRIVER DESCRIBES THE SMASH. Auckland, Last Night. The evidence of the engine driver, Alexa. lor S. Stewart, was taken at his residence, as he was not lit to appear. The brakes were tested at Porootarao, and were satisfactory. The train passed Ongarue at about 25 miles an hour, then he shut off steam and drifted along at about 20 miles an hour, but the speed might have increased to 30 miles an hour by the time the engine struck the slip. ’Die headlight was burning well. He did not see anything before running into the slip, and applied the brake immediately. The engine appeared to strike a heavy stone and was tossed about. After travelling some distance, it was thrown into the bank. Witness was struck on the head, and rendered unconscious. The door of the smoke box must have been struck by -a large stone in passing. Witness knew the line well, as he had been running on it for years. He did not regard this part as dangerous. He knew other places which were moie dangrous and whn coming to the dangerous and when coming to the tra precautions. He did not consider there was any necessity to do so there. His impression was that the slip came down immediately before the train came along. He thought the vibration of the train had a great deal to do with a slip coming down. The inquiry was then adjourned to Wellington sine die.