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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 1 (May 1, 1929)

Crossing Accidents in New Zealand — Railway Department's Anxious Care

page 49

Crossing Accidents in New Zealand
Railway Department's Anxious Care.

Speaking at the Wellington Automobile Club's dinner recently, the General Manager of Railways (Mr. H. H. Sterling) said:— “I cannot regret sufficiently, either the frequency with which there appear in the columns of the Press alarming headings, such as ‘Another Crossing Fatality,’ ‘The Deadly Level Crossing,’ etc., or the extreme tone of some letters we receive about accidents at railway crossings. As a Department of State, we have given anxious and constant consideration to the protection of human life, both on and off the railways, in relation to level crossings. From time to time we carefully make up our programme, and go with the utmost care into every circumstance bearing upon such crossing as it affects the motorist and the train. But even then, we find accidents happening where we did not think they could.”

“Just as all of us have to live within the limits of our purses, so the railways have to live within the limits of the purse of this country. If we could, we would wipe out every dangerous level crossing; but we have not the magic wand.”

“Without fear of contradiction, I say that our record in New Zealand will bear the most microscopic investigation. We get innumerable suggestions as to what should be done. People say we should put in crossbars and bridges, and put men on to guard the crossings. But on investigation we find that, over a large part of the Continent of Europe, crossing keepers are being cut out, leaving the onus of protection entirely on the motorist.”

“I want to say (and it is not generally known to the public) that the Department has no control over the question of vision at crossings where improved visibility could only be obtained by some action affecting private property; but I do say that, within the limits of its power, the Department does its best to make level crossings fool-proof.”

A view of the Riccarton Road level crossing. Christchurch, shewing the automatic “Wig-wag” alarm signal.

A view of the Riccarton Road level crossing. Christchurch, shewing the automatic “Wig-wag” alarm signal.

page break
“The charm of this enchanted ground…”—Byron A superb view of Franz Josef Glacier from “Christmas Outlook” (about 3,000 feet above sea level). The reader is asked specially to note the height of the trees on the left, and to imagine this remarkable scene in January when the rata is in bloom, and this great river of luminous ice, in all its varied colourings, framed in a blaze of scarlet against vivid green.

“The charm of this enchanted ground…”—Byron
A superb view of Franz Josef Glacier from “Christmas Outlook” (about 3,000 feet above sea level). The reader is asked specially to note the height of the trees on the left, and to imagine this remarkable scene in January when the rata is in bloom, and this great river of luminous ice, in all its varied colourings, framed in a blaze of scarlet against vivid green.