5:35pm Passenger train from Melbourne to Essendon (L 14?)
2nd train
Pilot engine with several carriages (V 13?)
Casualties
Injuries
Four passengers were seriously injured, and several others braised and hurt.
Details
Incident details
The pilot engine was engaged in making up trains, and in doing so was required to run off from No. 2 to No. 3 road, and had five carriages and a mail-van attached. The driver challenged No. 1 signal box to change to the road mentioned, when Mr. Sadler, to save time, told the signalman to 'make the road for the Williamstown arrival, and to pull over No. 12 points.' This was done, and the signal given to 'go ahead.' Just at this time, or half a minute afterwards, the Essendon train started. The points however, were not held as they ought to have been, but just as the last vehicle attached to the pilot engine was on the last crossover points leading, to Nos. 2 and 3 roads, the signal is stated to have been given to the pilot engine, which was travelling at a very slow rate, to stop. If this had been attended to, Mr. Sadler alleges that the pilot engine could have pulled up within a carriage or at most two carriage lengths and the Essendon train would have been cleared by over 100ft. The driver of the pilot engine, however, does not appear to have noticed the signal, and hence the collision.
Damage details
The pilot engine was considerably injured though not put out of running order, and three carriages were damaged to such an extent as to require repairing at the Williamstown workshops.
