MAIN TRUNK TRAINS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8202, 27 July 1915, Page 2

MAIN TRUNK TRAINS.

EXPRESSES CET THROUGH.

HOW DISASTER WAS AVERTED

(Per Press Association)

AUCKLAND, July 26

Nearly 800 passengers arrived in Auckland on Sunday on the resumption of traffic delayed by the landslip on tho Main Trukn railway line. It was a trying experience for all. I The trouble commenced when the train ran •into a mass of earth and boulders at Piriaka, six and a-half .miles south of Taumarunui., on Thursday morning. During subsequent delays, owing to slips and washouts, the passengers were for a time short of food. There was no gas in the train, and candles were largely used for lighting purposes. The Waikato River is rising rapidly, and has caused a wash-out one and ahalf miles north of Huntly. Tho first two expresses arriving here on Sunday experienced no iirouble from this cause, but the third was delayed over an hour, while repairs to the break were effected. Late last night tho river in the vicinity of Huntly was within a short distance of the level of the railway line. . Passengers by the second tram which arrived yesterday state that the people on the train which met with the mishap two and .three-quarter miles from Taumarunui on Friday had a very narrow escapo. ,< Fortunately the drivers of the two engines drawing the train, Doylo and Nioolson, noticed that the country was treacherous, and travelled over the dangerous part of tlto line very slowly. When the engines were midway across, the line sank, and the two locomotives and mail van were thrown on their sides, but no one was injured. Passengers paid-a tribute to the drivers, whoso careful driving, they said, was undoubtedly the means of averting a serious accident. Describing the experiences of passengers at Taumarunui, Mr H. C. Towsley said that tho proprietors of tho accommodation house were very considerate in supplying the wants of tho people, and there were very few cases of hardship. Passengers with through tickets were allowed to sleep in tho carriages. A good many persons had to stay at boarding-houses, and several women found it difficult to get lodgings. One woman with two children and some other women had to bo accommodated in the waiting-room at the Taumarunui station. A number of soldiers on leave from the training camps were on the train, and their good humour considerably relieved the monotony of waiting for the line to bo repaired.