SHUNTER KILLED.
DUNEDIN, June 12. Thomas McMillan, a shunter employed at the railway goods yard, was killed this morning. He slipped and fell while attempting to step on to a cowcatcher attached to an engine head. He fell beneath the cowcatcher and his neck was broken and his head badly smashed. He leaves a wife and a large family. -Ashburton Guardian, 13/6/1922.
RAILWAY FATALITIES
TWO UNFORTUNATE DEATHS.
Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., sitting as Coroner, was occupied yesterday afternoon in hearing evidence in connection with the death of two railway-men, who had accidentally received injuries that resulted in their death. Preliminary evidence had been taken in each case, and the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of the two men was resumed. Sub-inspector Eccles represented the police.
KILLED WHILE SHUNTING.
Thomas McMillan died as the result of injuries received in the railway yards while engaged in shunting operations last Monday. Mr Forrester appeared for the family of the deceased and Mr H. Coop represented the Railway Department.
John William Ory, engine driver, said he went on duty early on Monday morning. He was on an ordinary shunting engine, and Frame was on the engine with him. He knew deceased, who had been shunting for about 12 months. He was on duty on Monday, and was second shunter. Witness saw him shortly after 6.50 a.m. It was a misty morning with frost on the ground. Deceased had a lamp, on the step of the engine at the ‘‘trap.” Witness came up the B shed road. Deceased jumped off and turned a pair of points, and witness went over the points and waited for deceased. Witness would be five or ten yards past the points. Deceased gave the signal to come back and backed towards witness. The engine was approaching deceased, and he got on to the front of the cowcatcher. The engine was on the move and going about five miles an hour. Witness saw him on the step, and looked up the line. A few seconds later, when witness looked back, deceased was not on the step. Witness saw something on the line and put on the emergency brake and stopped the engine pretty quickly. Witness got off the engine and found deceased with his legs across the line and his head underneath the cow-catcher. He was dead. Witness thought deceased must have slipped, and his head became jammed in the cowcatcher. The engine did not pass over him. Deceased was always a careful man. It was a recognised practice to ride on the cow-catcher. Witness did not know that the step was for any other purpose. Witness had seen shunters use the step in the dark. Deceased had been walking up and down on the frosty ground. The body was taken away to the morgue. A doctor was sent for also.
To Mr Forrester: The ferrules on the step were not worn. It was necessary to raise the engine to extricate deceased. That took about 20 minutes. The jacks were in good working order.
To Mr Coop: There was a rule that men must not expose themselves to any danger.
Mr Coop: There was no reason for him (deceased) falling off the step (on the cowcatcher) unless he wanted to change his position? — No, but probably that would be the case if he tried to shift his position.
Mr Coop: His changing his position would be a risky proceeding? — Yes; under these conditions.
Mr Coop: The man was taking a risk? — Yes, he was taking a risk.
George Samuel Frame, fireman, said he was with Driver Ory on Monday morning. He saw deceased that morning. Deceased got on the driver’s side of the engine. The engine went up the B shed road. Deceased got off the engine step, and turned the points. He got on the step at the side of the engine again. He got off the engine to turn No. 10 point, and they proceeded up B shed road and went over the points. The engine started to come back, and witness stooped down to close the cylinder cocks. Next thing he heard was the driver call out "We are over, Mac,” and he put on the emergency brake. The shunter was lying with his head jammed under the cow-catcher. Witness was satisfied McMillan was then dead. There was some difficulty in extricating the body. Witness had used the back cow-catcher and it was safe if anyone took all care and did not slip. There was nothing to prevent the shunter riding on the side step instead of the cowcatcher. That was decidedly safer.
James Taylor, loco foreman, stated that the general rule was that the step on the cow-catcher was placed there for the shunter. The step at the side was for convenience in getting up into the cab. He knew of no regulation that shunters should, or should not, use the side step. He did not think there was a great deal of danger in using the cow-catcher step if ordinary care was used. There was more danger in a man getting on the front cowcatcher than the back one, when the engine was on the move. All the shunting engines had this step.
To Mr Coop: There would be a risk to a man in crossing over the cow-catcher. He (witness) would say it would be an unnecessary risk. He was aware of the existence of the rule as to no unnecessary risk being taken.
A verdict that death was due to shock, following on injuries caused by accidentally slipping from an engine at the Dunedin goods yards, was returned. -Otago Daily Times, 17/6/1922.
No comments:
Post a Comment