RO-2004-120 Express freight Train 726, collision with runaway locomotive, Pines, Wednesday 18 August 2004

On Wednesday 18 August 2004, at about 0815, an unmanned DFT locomotive, that had been stabled in the loop at Pines, ran away on to the Main North Line and collided with stationary Train 726, a Christchurch-Picton express freight service.

The runaway locomotive struck the second wagon in the consist of Train 726, which was standing over No.3 motor points at the south end of Pines.

There were no injuries and only minor damage to the DFT locomotive and one wagon on Train 726.

Safety issues identified were:

- the procedures for the application of the handbrake on the locomotives
- the potential for an accident had the locomotive runaway prior to the arrival of Train 726 at Pines.
One safety recommendation was made to the Chief Executive of Toll NZ Consolidated Limited to address these issues.