Kurkuruc Creek Accident

The Kurkuruc Creek is situated between Willowmavin and Moranding. It is included here, separately, as it was the scene of a very serious derailment in October, 1907. Summary details are taken from the newspapers of the day:

A serious accident occurs near Moranding. Driver J. Duke is killed when his goods train, running tender first, derails off a bridge into Kurkuruc Creek near Moranding, about 4 miles from Kilmore. Fireman E. Cherry dies before reaching hospital. The train, consisting of engine, tender and about 20 empty trucks, leaves Kilmore for Tooborac shortly before 1pm. There is a steep gradient approaching Kurkuruc Creek and the Driver, on approaching the bridge, allows the locomotive, running tender first, to proceed at 'full pace'.

Rev. Mr. McIntyre says that the Moranding accident is the result of cheese-paring policy on the part of the Commissioners, who know the line is dangerous. [It has never ceased to amaze me that so many experts on railway matters do not work in the Railways].

At the coronial inquiry into the Moranding accident, Fireman Cherry's brother, of North Fitzroy, identifies him and says that he had referred to the line as 'bumpy'. The Kilmore Stationmaster identifies the Driver's body.

A mysterious nut is found. The nut has oil on its thread but there is comment that indicates it is apparently not a nut that is used on either the engine, tender, or other vehicles on the wrecked train. A witness can not understand why it is found on the track.

Guard Holt says that when they were about 150 yards [46m] from the bridge he got a very severe tug which threw him on his back on the floor. Then there is a lighter tug and he is on the floor until forward movement stops. He jumps up, looks outside and sees the trucks have left the line and the rails are torn up. The engine, tender and 15 trucks have disappeared and only 1 truck and the van remain on the line. Holt gets out and runs down the bank to the creek. When he gets to the engine and trucks he can hardly see for steam. He calls out, 'Are you there Joe?' but gets no answer. He hurries into Moranding where he meets the Caretaker and sends him to High Camp to send word to Kilmore for assistance. He returns to the scene and sees the Driver under a truck with it resting on his feet. The Driver is dead when pulled out of the Creek. The Guard's van is about 22 feet [6.7m] from the south end of the bridge.

The new, heavier, D.D. engines have been running on the line tender first for about 12 months. Trains run tender first as there is no turntable at Tooborac. It is proposed to appoint an independent board to report on the cause of the accident.

The coronial inquiry concludes. The cause of the derailment is put down to the engine striking the end of a foul joint of the rail. As it is considered that such a joint could not have been discovered prior to the occurrence, it is due to misadventure.

The Government-appointed inquiry board visits Kilmore via the Departmental inspection car and proceeds to the Moranding accident scene. The wrecked tender is still in the bed of the creek, but the locomotive is on a separate set of rails leading to the main line. A minute examination of the rails and sleepers is made back at Kilmore. No evidence is taken and it is ordered that the damaged track items be locked up until the termination of the inquiry in Melbourne.

The special board takes evidence at the Railway Buildings in Melbourne. It is offered that a loose fishplate caused the accident but this is not readily accepted. A witness suggests that it is not possible to properly inspect fishplates on a tricycle. Repairmen are disinclined to get off when running along at a nice speed. Roadmaster, Charles Campbell, says that the usual speed of passenger trains is 40 miles per hour. A depot gang attends to the removal of worn out sleepers from time to time but the permanent way gang replaces any individual sleepers that are found to be dangerous. [Having spent three years of my life, doing exactly that, it is easy enough].

Repairer Healey of Moranding, is asked to explain how he detects a loose fishplate at 6 miles per hour on a trolley. He replies, 'By eye'.

Mr. Burgess says that the axle loads of the trucks are much less than the engine and the engine will have more affect on the permanent way after derailment. In taking measurements for 237ft [72.3m] back from the derailment, he fixes the precise point at which a wheel mounts the rail. It is in the middle of a rail about 14ft [4.3m] from the joint and the flange of the left wheel strikes the nut of the fishplate bolt. The Regulation maximum speed for a goods or mixed train running tender first is 37 miles per hour. His opinion of the cause is the existence of some obstruction on the line and it is not necessarily an intentional obstruction.

Almost 7 weeks have now passed, and yet there is still no official cause. Various pieces of wreckage litter the scene. A loop line has been run for about a quarter of a mile [400m] and that holds the wrecked engine. The bridge itself has the appearance of having suffered a heavy cannonade. Since the smash, two men have been on duty day and night, steadying trains over the bridge. The bridge will be stripped and properly repaired, practically rebuilt, as only the piles in a portion of it are undamaged. Visitors to the site have stripped the locomotive of almost everything that can be got off, leaving it looking like a 'plucked fowl'.

The Moranding inquiry ends. The official cause is 'some obstruction' on one of the rails, causing derailment of the engine and tender. Whether such obstruction was intentional or accidental, there is no evidence to show.

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