Re: Violet Town

[krel4203@netconnect.com.au (Krel )]

On Wed, 03 Feb 1999 08:53:36 GMT, march@pip.com.au wrote:

>
>
>Violet Town , 7th February 1969.
>
>S1 struck No316 Goods killing the S1 driver , a Mr Bowden, the driver of the
>Goods and 9 passengers.
>
Number 12 "Southern Aurora" collided with Number 428 (1.25am down)
Goods at 104 miles 45 chains (about 1.25 miles south of Violet Town).
Eight people were killed. Driver Bowden was already dead before the
impact of cardiac failure. The Aurora was doing 72 mph and the goods
30-35 mph when they hit.

The Aurora had 184 passengers and 23 crew on board; the goods had 3.
Killed were five passengers, the power van electrician, the conductor
in carriage 7, and the driver of the goods train (Mr. Rosevear). A
total of 96 passengers and 21 crew were injured.

The Aurora had 14 vehicles for 641 tons; the goods had 22 vehicles for
854 tons.

On the Aurora - loco S316 was severley damaged; PHN 2370 (power van)
was destroyed (by fire); LAN2346, NAM2343, LAN 2350, NAM 2339, LAN
2345, BCS 2355, & RMS 2358 were derailed and damaged. The remaining 5
carrriages and brake van were not derailed.

On the goods - loco S314 was severley damaged; wagons ALX 35, OX 23,
SGX 2, BKX 11912, ALX21, ALX 31 & LLV 11534 were damaged.

>Fireman Coultard was making a cuppa at the time in the rear of the leading
>engine and survived.
>
Driver Bowden died at the controls before the collision. Fireman
Coulthard (according to the inquiry) was in the nose of the loco
filling the kettle and ran into the engineroom before impact . Driver
Rosevear (of the goods) ran into the engineroom and was caught in the
fire. Fireman Brendecke jumped about 60 feet before impact.

Krel

Just another eccentric crank.