RAILWAY COLLISION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9362, 3 February 1909, Page 4

RAILWAY COLLISION.

AT MARTON JUNCTION

PASSENGERS ESCAPE INJURY.

At Marton Railway station yesterday theijmail train from Wanganui ran into an engine, which was being used for shunting in the yard. Two ‘ engines were considerably damaged, and the couplings of two carriages were broken. Fortunately no one was hurt, but several passengers suffered from shock and a child was knocked through the window bat escaped injury. Most of the contents of thbUining oar were smashed and other minor breakages are reported. The accident occurred just inside the entrance to the yard on the north side when the express train was running at the rate of 20 miles an hour. It appears tha shunting engine, driven by J. McGurke and, Fireman Sinclair, was running on the main line towards the points, going on to a branch railroad and before time was allowed to accomplish this, the signal was given from the station to the mail train that the line was clear. j As he vgas unable to see the sema-. phone from the yard, owing to the erection of recent buildings, the driver of the shunting engine did not notice the danger until the - express swept round the bend and it was then too late to avert an accident. The Westinghousa brakes were promptly applied on the express and McGurke with commendable promptness reversed his engine but it had no speed on when the engines crashed into each other. His action,-how-ever. must have considerably lessened the force of the impact. The drivers received a severe shasing, and the fireman on the front engine of the mail train had' his hand cut and was braised on the shoulder and ribs. The permanent way was torn up for some distance but the engines and carriages remained on the line. The front engine of the express and the shunting engine were jammed together but little time was lest in dragging them away to allow the express to proceed to Palmerston. The force of the impact lifted the front portion of the shunting engine off the line and the cow catchers and front ironwork were badly damaged. A big hole was made fin j one engines and the large connecting rod of iron—about 6 inches in diamater — between the two express engines was twisted like a lolly stick. The accident took place about 109 yards from the railway platform and the large number of people on the station, hearing the collision, feared serious results. When the work of separating the engines was being carried out Driver McGnrke, who was assisting, met with a painful accident. A heavy rail fell on his foot crushing it severely and he had to be carried to his borne, and surgical aid summoned. , - The collision should bring nnder the notice of the Railway authorities the urgent need for increased shunting facilities. The station has grown rapidly in importance and the accommodation is still far too inadequate to meet with the increased traffic. There should be no necessity for shunting to be done on the through line. Another unsatisfactory feature is that the semaphore on the north side cannot be seen from the platform and thus there can be no certainty that the signal is acting nroperly. Farther if Driver McGurke had been able to see that clear line had been signalled, would probably have had .time to get into a position of safety and averted the accident.