THE RAKAIA ACCIDENT.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 460, 13 July 1899, Page 2

THE RAKAIA ACCIDENT.

COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. The Commissioners', after reviewing the evidence, sum up their opinion as follows : Wc are of opinion that the accident arose through the driver, Carter, maintaining too high a speed in running his train between Chcrtsey and Rakaia, and from mit-judging his distance from Rakaia station when he shut off steam. There is not the slighted reasou to suppose that Carter was otherwise than perfectly sober, but as in his evidence he has admitted his extreme desire to make up on his journey the time which had been lf'St in starting from Ashtmrton, we believe he allowed that desire to over-ride his better judgment, and consequently maintained an excessive speed, expecting that No 2 south would be in Rakaia iu due time, and that the first excursion train would have cleared that station. The supposition that his mind was almost exclusively bent on this one su" ject seems to afford a reasonable explanation of the failure of himself and his fireman to see the green light which Burrows, the guard's assistant, alleges he waved almost persistently between Chertsey and the scene of the accident.

The Commissioners, commenting on the methods of working as disclosed by the evidence, recommend :- 1. Every station used for crossing passenger trains, and having a resident staff, should be provided with home and distant signals, and where trains have to be crossed at stations without a resident staff the working time-table should provide for each train coming to a stand o-Hside these points, and specify which was to enter the station first. 2. The practice of running double-engine passenger trains, except where such additional power is necessary to assist the load over exceptionally bad grades, is condemned, and the gradual equipment of the whole railway stock of the colony with the Westiugbouee brake is advocated. The ultimate cost of this is estimated at £270,000. 3. The institution of a system under which stations in advance of the fixed resting-place should, be advised of the late running of a train so booked to cross. 4. Adherence to rule 317, which has been allowed to fall icto abeyauct, with added authority to the driver to exceed the time-table speed only at the written request of the euard, and within stated limits. This system is found to work well elsewhere.