Photo of the Moment: Swan Tunnel, Perth

© Stygiangloom

In the photographer’s words:

Built in 1894 the worst accident took place on November 4, 1942. A double-headed goods train, pulling a load of some 431 tonnes (just 14 tonnes short of its maximum allowable load), entered the tunnel at walking pace. The locomotive crews were quickly overcome by heat and fumes and rendered unconscious. The driver of one of the engines had managed to shut off power before he passed out, but the driver of the second engine was overcome before he could do likewise. He died on his engine in the tunnel. The train started to roll back, which caused the engine still on power to slip into reverse, and the train began powering backwards.

The guard had already alighted and applied the handbrakes (although not the vacuum brake, as he thought the driver would quickly regain control) on the wagons. However, the engine crews were in no condition to regain control and the train careered through Swan View Station at an estimated 70 to 80 kilometres per hour. The runaway train went into a runaway dead-end which had been constructed in case of such an incident. The rear portion of the train piled up in a mass of wreckage, which fortunately had a cushioning effect and saved the three unconscious men from serious injury.