Rail Tale Episode 2 - A Runaway Premier (or a runaway Premiers’ carriage?)

The Queensland Rail History Podcast

In 1931, the then Queensland Premier Arthur Moore travelled to Monto and opened Monto's Third Annual Show on Friday, 1 May 1931. Monto was a "new town" to which rail connection had been opened via Gayndah on 15th September 1928. The official party comprised the Premier, Arthur Moore, his wife, and Mr. R. L. Boyd, Country Party M.L.A. for Burnett from 1928 to 1932, who had a dairy farm near Wetheron in the Burnett district.

The Premiers’ carriage (Possibly No. 920) was attached to the regular Saturday Goods (it may have been a Mixed train carrying both passengers and goods etc. on account of the Show; normally, the Mixed ran only Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from Monto). The journey back to Brisbane was 321 miles (517 km) and would be taking close to 24 hours.

The trip was proceeding uneventfully until it was discovered that the Westinghouse brake on the Premier's carriage was defective. The carriage had been attached at the rear of the train so that the Premiers’ party could enjoy the view unimpeded and have a minimum of disturbance from shunting.

However, with the brake out of action, it was of concern to the railway employees as in the event of coupling coming loose, especially as the train had to climb the steep Bin Bin Range on the branch.

The carriage was then uncoupled to place it ahead of the Guard's van (ahead of the ‘roadside wagon’ that was used for transporting perishables, and deliveries to various stations along the line, general practice was that the roadside wagon stayed next to the Guards van).

The carriage wheels were ‘spragged’ (a piece of iron or timber placed in between wheel spokes) to prevent it running away, and the train remarshalled to reattach the carriage. As the driver was easing back to allow the Guard to swing the screw coupling onto the carriage, there was a jolt. The jolt knocked the sprag out and the carriage began to slowly move under its own momentum down the line.

It was not until they had travelled about 20 yards that the Premier and the travellers realised something was wrong. The Guard, (Hutton), gave a warning shout and raced after the carriage. After a short sprint, he climbed aboard just as the carriage was gaining speed. As the carriage had no handbrake it was with a 'thump' that the Guard realised that nothing could be done.

The carriage was soon "swaying round the curves at a fast pace". The Guard thought they would stop, (or rather roll to a halt) at Byrnestown but this was overly optimistic. As the Premier said to the newspaper, “We rushed through there at 30 m.p.h. (48 km/h) much to the surprise and alarm of the official (presumably the Station Mistress) … My hat and papers were swept off the table and flew out the window ....”

As the carriage swept past Mr. Boyd's house, (the local member) that was plainly visible from the railway line, Mr. Boyd noticed his wife staring in disbelief from the verandah of their house.

Recognising the Premier's carriage and Mrs Boyd, being described as “a person of action”, dashed to the car with her two children and chased the runaway carriage. At Wetheron station, the carriage rolled up a steep grade, and "the speed gradually reduced, the guard and the Premier jumped off on either side of the carriage and hung on to it until it was dragged to a stop just on top of the rise.

Mrs. Moore and Mr. Boyd also jumped out, and in a few moments the wheels were chocked, and a strong sapling propped up against the carriage, to prevent further unauthorised movements.

Mrs. Boyd arrived by car soon after the party had jumped out while the train engine, sent from Gooroolba in pursuit, arrived and took the carriage in tow. The Premier finally reached Brisbane on the Sunday morning without further incident, and full of praise for the quick-thinking Guard, and the locals, who set off in hot pursuit of the runaway.