RICHMOND RAILWAY DISASTER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 127, 7 September 1910, Page 5

RICHMOND RAILWAY DISASTER

REPORT OF THE BOARD. By Cable.—Press, Association.—Copyright Melbourne, September 6. The Richmond Disaster Board reports that the contraventions of rules which caused the accident were the act of MTJonaldi, who put the advanced starter at South Yarra at danger, thereby stopping up the Brighton train. He allowed what he thought a reasonable time, but Ms guess was inaccurate. The regulation might be made more explicit. The failure of the driver, fireman, and Nnguard of the 8.20 train to inform lM*Donald of their detention at the ad"vance starter as practised seemed to ignore the regulation governing that. No blame was attached to any of the men concerned. MDonaldi's act in allowing the 8.37 from Prahran before he knew that the 8.20 had gone a quarter of a mile was the final mistake. That which actually caused the collision was that engine-driver Melville, after receiving notification by the explosion of a detonator of the position at the distant semaphore, did not exercise the' extreme caution necessary and passed the home semaphore while at danger. The action was to some extent excusable, as he had been allowed into the section. Another error was the understanding between Oliphant, the Richmond stationmaster, and Signalman Bull resulting in ithe absence of a fog Bignalman. The report did not find Oliphant to blame.