“THE LIMITED’S” HOLD-UP.

Shannon News, 22 December 1925, Page 2

“THE LIMITED’S” HOLD-UP.

SAFETY. MARGIN; NOT REDUCED. MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION OF LEVIN MISHAP. “In ttie reorganisation of timetables recently undertaken, the extreme margin of safety provided for railway operations and roiling stock has not been reduced or altered in any way, either for wheel tires or speeds on Main Trunk trains. The same special maxima over various portions qf the line 'between Wellington and Auckland apply to the Limited trains as to the ordinary expresses. There has even been a reduction under the November timetable in the number of vehicles cm the Limijted, tire total now being eight, and this also facilitates a better distribution of time by allowing irnpnoved running on the up grades.” The foregoing statements were made by the Prime Minister (Hon. .T. G. Coates) in Ins ciapacilty-as Minister of Railways, when commenting on the delay which occurred last Monday to the north-bound night Limited near Levin, through a tilre on a wheel of the guard’s van being fractured. ' The Minister remarked that the facts he had mentioned did not appear to be generally known. Regarding (wheel tires, he pointed out that the standard practice followed was to fit all new tires to Main. Trunk passenger rolling stock ami main line passenger cars, from which they were removed as they were down, being placed under , .important vehicles, until, having reached a cer-

tain minimum, thickness, the worn* tires were totally discarded. The van in question had been in service less than a month, and the thickness of the wheel tire was considerably in excess of that required by the standard safety margin. “The manufacturers, a reputable English firm,” added Mr Coates, “will, of course, be communicated with, and any other necessary action taken to pipvide to the utmost against the possibility of a similar accident recurring. Besides the regular examination of Main Trunk rolling stock at terminal stations, constant vigilance is exercised at intermediate stopping places by train examiners to detect any flaws and express services are further protected by a special type of coupling link made of extremely strong metal, which tends in case of mishap to keep the vehicles on the rail. “In this case the guard noticed the unevenness immediately the tire slipped, and applied the Westiiighiouse brake from the van, an action which, besides drawing the driver’s attention and setting the brake in motion, tended to minimise the possibility of .any harm arising from the mishap. The train was running on time and travelling quite at the ordinary rate. “From reports received,” concluded the Minister, “it also appears that the passengers accepted the resulting delay in the best possible spirit, and Were very helpful with assistance during the emergency.”