THE DERAILMENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 280, 8 September 1941, Page 8

THE DERAILMENT

TRAIN ACCIDENT AT SEADOWN. LINE BLOCKED FOB 10 HOURS. .'/ - Thirteen railway trucks were involved in a spectacular accident*when the early morning goods train from Christchurch to Timaru was derailed at the Seadown railway station, about seven miles north of Timaru, a little after 6.30 on Saturday morning. Several waggons were completely wrecked and others were badly splintered, and some damage was done to the permanent way. There were no passengers on the train. The cause of the derailment is not wnown. Wrecked railway waggons were piled in a heap across the track, and coal, which appeared to be the principal freight, was scattered over a large area. Large, jagged holes had been gouged in the sides of some of the trucks, and one lay with its wheels torn from its body. A Diesel shovel, a privately-owned bulldozer, and a big breakdown crane iwero used to shift the debris. The track was cleared about 4.30 p.m. There was a general disruption of train services as a result of the mishap. The first south express arrived at Ashburton at 10.9, but its departure was delayed until 1.35 p.m. The relief express for the south, due at 10.35 a.m., did not arrive until 1.49 p.m., leaving again at 2.6. The second south express, due at 1.56 p.m., was in at 3.3, departing at 3.13. The north trains were also delayed. The first north express, duo at 3.27, did not arrive until 6.26, and the second express, due at 5.4, arrived at 6.41.