HUTT DERAILMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1943, Page 4

HUTT DERAILMENT

FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD CONDITION OF PERMANENT WAY AUTHORISED SPEEDS THOUGHT SAFE (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Hutt railway derailment inquiry was continued today. Mr G. G. Watson raised with H. L. P. Smith, district engineer of the area in which the derailment took place, the question if it would not be worth while getting the Department's recording machine to test the track. Witness said it had not occurred to anybody to get it. The safety of the track was something a permanent way man could pick up with his inspection. It was a question of danger out of irregularities. He had received individual complaints from engine drivers about the state of the track and had sought such. The drivers were a great help in checking up on the track.

“Are you prepared,” asked Mr Watson, “to suggest any steps that should be taken, in light of the two derailments, to prevent the possibility of a third on this section, other than the reduction of speed the E.F.C.A. has asked for?”

Witness: “I could not find any fault in the track that would cause either derailment. I have no suggestion to make to avoid a similar derailment, because I don’t know what caused the derailments." Witness expressed the opinion that the minor variations in cant and slack that had been found did not, in their cumulative effect, cause a derailment, but not knowing the cause, he said to a further question he would not rule out that possibility. Under further questioning, witness said the wear on the rails was perfectly normal for a rail on a curve. The experience of track men, he said to Mr Mcllvride, was that the W.A.B. type of engine was the hardest on the track they had. To Mr W. H. Cunningham, K.C., witness said he considered that the authorised speeds could be run safely on the track in its present condition. (Proceeding)

The following evidence was heard yesterday afternoon: — Lewis John Barraclough, an engine driver with 23 years’ service with the department, stated that the track between Wellington and Upper Hutt was not in perfect condition. John William Boyd, engine driver, said he drove a train from Wellington to Upper Hutt, using a Wab engine, on the morning of the derailment. It passed over the 15-chain curve about 10 minutes before the accident. He noticed nothing unusual. He had previously noticed, when driving the Wab, a “kick” on the Andrews side of the newly ballasted section of the 15chain curve when travelling south. The state of the track was getting so bad that the speed of the trains should be reduced. Witness said that other drivers had complained of- the kick, or bump, or hole, just where the train had been derailed.

Harry Louis Percy Smith, district engineer, said that there was no sign of any obstruction having been placed on the rails.