RAILWAY TROUBLES -

The only railway tunnel constructed in the state (at that time - 1896) was at Swan View. It was found to be somewhat unstable and had to be lined with bricks.

When put into service it was quickly found to have serious ventilation problems and crews were often overcome by smoke. On some occasions drivers fell from the engine and one was severely injured. Protests from railway staff were ignored until the 1940s when the crew of one train all passed out.

The accident happened on November 4th 1942 and involved a double engined goods train pulling 431 tonnes. The driver of one engine managed to shut off power before he passed out but the other driver passed out before he could take action. As the train began to slip backwards the engine still under power switched into reverse and the train hurtled back down the track at considerable speed.

The runaway train passed Sawn View station doing an estimated 80 kilometres and hour and was directed off the main line into a dead-end that had been constructed in case of such an event.

As the rear wagons hit first there was a cushioning effect on the front of the train where the crews were located. This saved three men from serious injury but sadly one of the engine drivers had succumbed to smoke while still in the tunnel and had died.

Finally after a tragedy that should never have occurred the railway management acted and the tunnel was abandoned in favour of a cutting that was made in 1945.

More problems for the railway took place on the Jane Brook line in July 1896. A mixed goods train (with one passenger car) suffered a break in a coupling not long after a passenger train going down to Midland had passed by.

The runaway carriages hurtled down the line after the passenger train and after a telegraph from the Station Master at Parkerville the passenger train was shunted onto a siding, avoiding a complete disaster.

Unfortunately for the two passengers and seven horses on the runaway, there was no way of stopping the headlong plunge and at an estimated speed on 120mph the train left the rails and smashed to pieces.

James Morgan (the newly appointed Forest Ranger) was killed but Faulkner (the other passenger) had a miraculous escape.

He was found wedged between two rocks with a metal spar driven 3 metres into the ground just inches from his head.

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