A VICTORIAN RAILWAY DISASTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2759, 7 February 1910, Page 5

A VICTORIAN RAILWAY DISASTER.

CABLE NEWS.

-THREE MEN KILLED

LONG HOURS THE ALLEGED CAUSE.

United Press Association —Copyright (Received February 6, 5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Feb. 6.

A goods train, drawn by two engines, from Ararat, instead of drawing up at .Beaufort, ran into the buffer steps. The driver, Coward, and the fireman, Russell, on the second engine, were killed instantly. The fireman, Gillan, on the first engine, died subsequently, while the driver, Gronn, of the leading engine, was badly scalded. The signalman states that lie saw the train travelling at a terrific pace, and, in order to prevent a collision with a goods engine standing on the line, lie switched the Ararat train into the dead end.

The impact was terrific. The leading engine was derailed, while the second one and the tender were crumpled up. Coward was; found clinging to the lever, while Russell was-holding on to the brake. Gillan was pinned under the -engine, and it took three and ahalf hours to release him.

Complaints are made that the crew of the train had been on duty for IS hours without a break. Coward is stated to have remarked to his wife, “There is sure to be a smash one of these days. We have to work so long we are often half asleep on the job.”

[Ararat is -a small town, 131 .miles north-west from Melbourne, and Beaufort is 104 miles from Melbourne, in t-lie same direction.]