Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 27 August 1928, page 16


MILDURA TRAIN DERAILMENT

Inconclusive Inquiry.

Inquiries into the derailment of the Mildura

express at Guildford on the night of August 16 have failed to show a definite cause for the accident. The report of the departmental board of inquiry, consisting of Messrs. J. Conlan, A. Goudy, and A. R. Stamp, which investigated the accident, was submitted to the Minister for Railways

(Mr. Tunnecliffe) on Saturday. It was suggested, however, that the effect of the 800ft. curve on trucks on the train caused the derailment. The vehicles con-cerned were high-sided six-wheeled vans, and were lightly loaded. The pressure of the inner buffers on the curve would have the effect of lifting the outer leading wheel, thus contributing to the accident. It was recommended that a guard rail should be placed on the curve, and that as far as practicable the use of six-wheeled vehicles should be discontinued.

According to statements of the train crew the accident occurred just after the train left Guildford, and while it was travelling at a speed of about 13 miles an hour. A slight jerk was felt in the cab of the engine, and the Westinghouse brakes were then applied. On looking back the engine driver saw that the train had broken, the leading van being still attached to the engine, but with its front wheels derailed. Some distance farther back the next van was lying on its side. The rest of the train, which contained many passengers, was intact.