SPEED ON THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2093, 20 January 1908, Page 4

SPEED ON THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

IS IT EXCESSIVE?

REPLY TO AIR AVILFORD

Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Jan. 1G

A complaint of the speed of tho train upon the curves of the Main Trunk Line, a. few miles to tho north of Taumaranui, was made by Mr. 'l'. M. AVilford, M.T., on Thursday, to x representative of the “Evening Post.” Air AA’ilford’s idea was that tho speed in. the circumstances was excessive, not to say dangerous. This is not the view of the Railway Department. The matter was referred to an official yesterday, and’ his explanation was that instructions to” drivers, as to speed, w. - o based 1 upon the limits of safety, so far as was known drivers carried out those instructions. Possibly a driver may be la't'o, and then he would attempt to put on extra Steam; to make up, but the time tables were based upon the limits of safety and the speeds maintained., were well within it. A Government. engineer who lias travelled much over the curves referred to by Mr AA'ilford, said that he had passed .along the lino in question, in i “special.” going at twice the timetable speed, and no discomfort was felt by the passengers, and no fears were expressed at that time. The best proof of the safety of the line under the usual rates of speed ,was that trains had been running on the line for years, and no. 'accident had yet occurred.