STRUCK BY ENGINE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 916, 8 March 1930, Page 6

STRUCK BY ENGINE

DEATH OF INSPECTOR EVIDENCE AT INQUEST Special to THE SUN . TAUMARUNTJI. Friday. An inquest concerning the death of Joseph Biacker, inspector of permanent vvay. in the employ of the Railway Department, who was killed when a ballast train struck the jigger on which he was riding, was held at Taumarunui today before Mr. A. S. Laird, district coroner. John James Alliugham said he was driving a train which left Okahukura about 2 p.m. for Taringamotu. When about a mile and a-half past Okahukura lie noticed a jigger approaching. It was about 50yds. in front of the train. Witness called out to his mate to cut off steam, reversed the engine and applied the emergency brake. He did not see a man on the jigger, as his attention was taken up with the engineThe train was travelling about 17 to 20 miles an hour. After he had applied the brakes the engine travelled about 200yds. before being pulled up.

Witnass said he could not have stopped the train sooner. Deceased’s body rolled out on the path alongside the line when the train stopped. Deceased was familiar with the running time of the train. They waited at Okahukura for a special train to arrive from Taumarunui before proceeding to Taringamotu. Blacker was following the special train. Witness knew that a light engine was to follow the special train, and evidently Blacker thought it would follow him before the ballast train was allowed to depart from Okahukura.

Frank Merson, signalman, said he understood from a conversation with Blacker that he Intended to travel after the light engine, but he did not do so. During the conversation there was no mention of a ballast train. The coroner returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally killed, no blame being attachable to anyone.