Mains Trunk Smash

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 22, 16 June 1914, Page 5

Mains Trunk Smash

THE CORONER'S FINDINO. \

TUB TABLET PORTER AIUu&TED TOR 'MANtiLAUG'ttTEtt.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Tlio - coroner's finding in the inquest concerning the circumstances l>y which three victims of the Main Trunk smash at Whangamarino met their death, was delivered this morning by Air F. V. Frazer, S.Ai. "I find," said tlie coroner, "that Orton Stevens and O. Peterson died at VY'hangaraarino on the 27fch day of -Way, 1014, and tint George Grimstone die-i \ at Hamilton on the same day, the cause of death in each case ibeinjr injuries sustained as fhe result of a railway collision at Wlmnga-nnarino on that day.'' The coroner then reviewed, the circumstances of the accident very fully. "There is ample evidence," ho continued, "that iihe south signal was standing at the 'safety' or 'line blear 1 position, and that the express was traveling at a reasonable rate of speed. In no wav can the driver (Stone) be licid to have been in default, and he is accordingly EXONERATED FROM ALL BLAME.

"Indeed," lie continued, "great credit h due to him, and lhi& flroiuan (Bardington) for the presence of mind they displayed in standing at their posts until the wrecked .engine came to rest in the swamp, and then taxing immediate measures to extinguish the engine fire and prevent further danger to life* and property. At the time the collision occurred the tablet porter, Donaldson who, was in solo charge of the station, was (holding down tie points lever in order to allow- a goods tram to run into the siding. • Aq 'the trucks of the goods train were between Mm and the express he did not see or hear the express epproaching, and was struck by the wreckage and rendered unconscious;

"An investigation imado immediately after the collision Jby a number of *itncsscs showed that he lhad left the platform lever, which operate the south signal, properly locked in the 'danger 1 or 'line dosed' position—that is, in the position in w'tach it would normatty hold! the semaphore signal 'at danger—but that the signal itself was showing a full green light, indicating safety.

FAUDEY SIGNAL ADJUSTMENT. "Plainly the adjustment of the signal connections was fault. An examination made tut a later date by the Ohief Signal and Electrical Engineer, Mr Wynne, revealed the fact tSiat Signal-Ad-juster Oruiekslhahk had made certain alterations in the adjustment of the signal apparatus in November last, without necessary authority from l his inspector; and, furthermore, had, failed to report the details of hia work as required by the rules. Unfortunately, one or the alterations was tne placing of a 1% inch reel at the top of the hank on which the signal post stands, and running the chain which formed part of the signal connections through' the concave slot of this reel. This was another breach of the regulations, as signal adjusters are strictly enjoined to use only standard materials in their work, and the standard material for use in sutoh a case is a 6-inch or 8-inch Wheel, with a square slot for the chain to run over. The effect of the alterations was to create increased friction in .the working oi the connections, which had to be overcome by an undue tightening of the signal wire. This did not permit of sufficient allowance being made for contraction of the 040 yards' of wire oh a cold winter night, though it did not affect the working of the signal under ordinary weather conditions. In the early morning of the 27tn of May, during the first really cold/ weather experienced since the alterations were made, the contraction of the. already overtight wire gradually pulled the signal 'spectacle' over until the full green light was shown, the controliin-r lever at the platform still remaining locked at the danger position.

THE PRIMAR\ CAUSE. ' "I am satisfied that but for this improper use of unauthorised material the •ontraction of the wire caused by any degree of cold likely, to be experienced at Whangamarino coujd not have affected the signal to any appreciable extent." After referring to the duties of tablet porters in regard to the working of signals, and the practice of crossing trains, the coroner said', "It is my duty now to find definitely who were to biaimc for tho collision and to apportion the blame. The. primary cause of the defective working of the signal was without doubt the unauthorised alterations made by Signal-Adjuster Oruickshank. I have already found that he was guilty o : three breaches of the roles, laid down for his guidance: (1) In making any alterations at all without instructions; (2), in putting in unsuitable material, which did not confonni to the requirements of the prescribed standard; and (3) in failing to report in detail what lie had done. In extenuation, it must be said that he acted in ail good faith, making his alterations at the request of an inspector of the permanent way, who was engaged in making an addition to -the siding which would interfere with the then existing signal contraction. He did not have a 6-inch or an 8-inc!h wheel with him at tlhe time, and had not sufficient knowledge of the principles of mechanics to enable him.to realise the effect which the contraction of the wire would have upon the working of the signal inehanism as altered by the inclusion of the 1%-inoh reel. I have no reason to doubt that he did his host with the material available on the spot, and it is clear from the cvidnce that it worked quite well until the first severe cold of winter was exDcrienced. His omission to report the details of his work to his inspector is more difficult to understand, and I ean only assume that he considered that the general report he sent in was Siufficicnt.

SIGNAL ADJUSTER'S ERROR OP JUDGMENT. "I am entitled to take into consideration the excellent record Oruickshnnk has held in the Borvice in estimating the quality of his action, and 1 am of opinion that 'he -was not wilfully guilty of the threefold breach of duty involved, or, at all events, that he was not guilty of wilful negligence likely to endanger life. T consider rather What 'he committed an honest error of judgment, due partly to his ignorance of certain principles of mechanics, and partly to his failure to realise that he had done something which required to 'be submitted to his superior officer for approval and confirmation. He tested his work after its completion, «ind«honest!y believed that he had done what was necessary and proper. BVom tide point of view of the railway reputations his breach of duty is serious, but frmm the point of view of criminal law it does not amount, to that gross degree of ncgiligence which i» termed culpable negligence, the more of|periaKy n* it was the, duty of the officer in charge of the station to watch the signal vigilantly in order to guard against the consequence of any possible defect in its working.