Railway accident at Aberdeen, New South Wales

Abstract

Photograph of derailed engine and carriage, other train wreckage and onlookers. An undamaged engine can be seen further along the line and on the left is a crane on a cart. Telegraph poles and a damaged wire and post fence run alongside the track. In the background can be seen more fences, trees, houses and other buildings. There are two horses on the left. On the night of 10 June 1926 five people died and thirteen were injured when the Brisbane express train, hauled by two engines, fell through a timber bridge. One of the engines was of the NN type, which William Ellis had worked with for many years at the Eveleigh maintenance workshops. Ellis was shown photographs of the Aberdeen accident and was interviewed by the Smith's Weekly as to the causes of the derailment. He believed this engine type had a defect and excerpts from his diary were published to support his argument that the engines were continually in the workshop for repairs. He was subsequently called as a witness to the coronial inquiry. The coroner found that the track was not in a condition to carry safely an NN engine travelling at a greater speed than 35 miles an hour.