Re: Fatality at Robertson

[Bob <gioia@fastlink.com.au>]

Eben Levy wrote:

> Michael Kurkowski wrote:
>
> > Chris Stratton wrote:
> > >
> > > Update from the midday news.
> > > Two confirmed dead.
> > > A landslip caused by the heavy rain pushed the unused abutment from the old
> > > road overbridge toward the track. The loco sideswiped the abutment which
> > > then caused it to hit the abutment for the new road bridge and the loco then
> > > tipped on its side.
> > > There was a short interview with Fred Affleck (?) from NR so it must have
> > > been an NR train and the loco was most likely an NR as they usually lead up
> > > to Moss Vale when working with other classes.
> > > Regards,
> >
> > From the footage on Channel 10 news, it appeared that there were two
> > locomotives, both being NR's the second one which was upright was NR26.
>
> NR3/26/seatrain loco. It was the bridge between lairds corner and ocean view. NR3
> went cab first into the embankment cruching the cab, minor damage to the front of
> NR26 but it and the third loco stayed on the track. The accident happened at about
> 40Kph. There was supposed to have been an inspector on the train looking for land
> slides but was not on the train. One crew member died when he jumped from the
> loco. the other was crushed to death.

The third unit was NR 72. One report suggests that the accident was found by a passing
motorist that saw the wreckage and heard the diesel engines still powering some time
after the accident had occured.  Has anyone else heard this?
Bob