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Thu 1 Jan 1903 - Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931)
Page 4 - EXCITING INCIDENT.
EXCITING INCIDENT.
IN LAPSTONE TUNNEL,
KATOOMBAi Thursday. — The midday passen
ger train, wihich was due here at 1.30 yesterday,
did not arrive until 3 p.m. It appeared that, on
account of the heavy load, the engines could not
negotiate the Lapstone or Glentorook Tunnel,
and after the driver and fireman had nearly
fainted, they were compelled to back out of the
tunnel, and uncouple half the carriages, going
as far as Glenbrook, -and returning for the oth-.
ers. The passengers report iihat the heat in
the tunnel was almost unbearable, many ladies
being much distressed. It is stated that three
attempts were made to clear the tunnel. Fire
man T. Wright was slightly scalded, but J. Wil
lis, driver, collapsed, and became unseonscious.
The driver and fireman on an engine standing
at Glenbrook were sent back for the other half of
the train, and proceeded with the full train on its
journey. None of the passengers were hurt, al
though many, especially ladies, must have gone
through a trying ordeal. First aid was rendered
to Willis at Glenbrook, and later he was brought
to Penrith, where a medical man attributed the
cause of his collapse to the hot air having got on
his lungs_.L
The Lapstone or Glenbrook Tunnel is situated
between Emu Plains and Glenbrook, and is better
known as the 'sulphur' tunnel. Passengers on
the western line are made aware of the near ap
proach to the tunnel by the closing of all windows
on the train. The tunnel is said to be about
three-quarters of a mile long. As the train pas
ses through the carriages are filled with a hot and
almost suffocating atmosphere, and there is a very
strong odour of sulphur.