THE AUCKLAND RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Manawatu Times, Volume XX, Issue 1322, 16 October 1884, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Per Press- Association, Robertson, driver of the Onehuhga trains (baa made the following statement retbecollision;:— "Left On^hunga five minutes late with a train of, six carnages, travelling, 15 miles an hour ; had about 20fr passengers on 'board. The wind being from a favdrable, quarter ! the smoke from the previous' train "which parsed through the tunnel : was> cleared away and he was able to see the y /whole length of the tunnel, and thus saw the other engine approach ; but for this circumstance he considers no earthly power would have saved them, and neitbW'hini- nor anyone eisewouldihave lived to tell the ,tale. When he r first saw the engine 1 tie 'could'n'oi; - telfcf.wbe* ther it was drawing any carriages. He exclaimed to hjs mate, Are .they mad m Auckland to/ selid off a' 'train at this time." Blew the alarm whistle, sig-nalled-the guard to put on- the? brakes, reversed the machinery, (and endeavored to stop the { engine. When" half through tße ta'nh'et the: train was brought ■ almost 18 A ; stands till, 'not going moretbant* feile'an bolir.' ' The runaway engine coming into them at 10 n.iles an ; hour; on seeing the speed.of the runaway he said to the fireman "we are safe." The concussion' was a good deal broken; 'on account of (he brakes being on, and the passengers consequently did not feiel the fprce of the collision as' much 'as the fireman and' himself.' ; As :: soon as the enginea met. he jumped on the runaway and'shutf off steam. The pres« ! sure had then fallen to 40 ibs. ,-■