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MUNDIJONG SMASH.
BREAKDOWN GANG'S HARD JOB
Damage Estimated at £2,000..:\
Further particulars concerning the rail
way smash at.Mundijong on Friday night,
when a goods train crashed head-on into a
stationary train were obtained on Satur
day. When members of the breakdown
gang arrived at 3.30 a.m. tlie next morn
ing to start their arduous task, they saw a
spectacle of confusion. The two locomo
tives were jammed together, and the
trucks, many of them splintered to match
wood, and turned upside down, were
strewn over the lines like toys scattered
by a giant hand. In some cases, the
trucks were piled on top of one another
to a height of 20ft. Out of 50 trucks on
the moving train, IS mostly empties, were
smashed, including two that were damag
ed beyond repair. Despite the force of
the impact, and the damage done, only
one person was injured— It. Ivingdon. fire
man of the moving train, who received
abrasions to one leg.
The accident occurred about 9.20 p.m.
A partially laden goods train bound for
Brunswick .Junction crashed head on into
the engine of a laden Perth-bound train,
which was standing on the main line,
beside the platform. The moving train,
with about 20 empty trucks immediately
behind the engine, was travelling ou a
down grade at 15 miles an hour. When the
impact occurred, the vacuum pipe on
the locomotive of the stationary train
broke, causing the brakes to be automati
cally applied. This rendered the heavily
ladeu stationary train practically immov
able, and, consequently, the empty trucks
on the moving train were telescoped by
the weight of the loaded trucks behind
them. The front buffers of both engines
were badly bent, but otherwise the loco
motives were only slightly damaged, and
were later driven away. Only two trucks
on the stationary train were damaged.
Both lines wore blocked by the wreckage,
and this made it necessary for goods and
passengers travelling between Perth aud
Bunburyto be transferred to trains work
ing from both termini. About 12 tons
of goods, including 100 10-gallon milk cans,
luggage, and perishables, had to be car
ried 200 yards by the break-down gang
and the train crews between the connect
ing trains. Despite there difficulties, rail
way officials said, the time table was not
disorganised by much more than an hour.
The breakdown gang had both lines clear
ed by 3.45 p.m. on Saturday, when the
normal service was resumed. 'They work
ed like Trojans, and except to snatch a
meal, never stopped until the job was
finished,' commented an official.
The accident is said to have been due to
the mistake of a signalman, which caused
the moving train to continue along the
main line, instead of being diverted on to
a loop. The driver said that he was
watching the signal, and although he in
stautiy applied the brakes when he saw
the lights of the Perth-bound train, it
was too late to avoid the smash. Had the
train been travelling faster, the result
might have been disastrous. There was
a truck full of live-stock at the rear of
the moving train, but the animals escaped
unhurt, and were sent to their destination.
The damage to the rollins: stock is estim
ated at ±'2,000.
$