GOODS TRAIN DERAILED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 206, 13 June 1946, Page 6

GOODS TRAIN DERAILED

ENGINE AND SEVEN WAGGONS LEAVE RAILS MISHAP NEAR GORE „(P.A.) GORE, This Day. A J class engine and seven waggons of the InvercargillDunedin night goods train were derailed when the engine struck ,a bullock wandering om the line about 300 yards south of the Gore borough boundary at 11.23 last evening. i The driver and fireman had a remarkable escape when the engine twisted at the cab, and the boiler section slewed round at an angle. Several of the waggons and the goods contained in, them were seriously damaged. The north passenger express, due to leave Gore at 8.14 to day, was halted some distance south of the scene of the wreck, and the passengers were transhipped to Gore by railways road service vehicles. A relief train was marshalled at Gore, and passengers were dispatched for the North this morning. ' A breakdown squad of about 10 men was engaged diverting the line round the engine of the wrecked train to give passage for other trains. It is hoped to have the line relaid and baiasted- for use by mid-day. The train was travelling at about 26 miles an hour when it ran into a herd of 40 cattle when approaching Gore. The engine struck a bullock, which the driver said afterwards seemed to pass under the wheels. The impact caused light trucks between the engine and the remainder of the train to buck into the air anq fly on, the rails, two of them to the right and five to the left..

Bullock Thrown Clear

The engine carried on for about 100 yards, throwing the mauled carcase ot the bullock clear, and then slewed round to the right. The nose Pf the engine ploughed to the depth of the boiler into the clay at the side of the line, while the cab was buckled between the angle of the engine and'the tender. • The -.only injury suffered by the driver was a cut on the hand, suffered when he escaped through the window. The fireman, also managed to get clear almost unhurt, and the only other occupant of the train, the guard, was not injured. The seven waggons which were hurled off the line presented a scene of confusion this morning. Two timber waggons flew to the right on capsizing completely, arid another landed on one end arid was damaged when it struck the ground. To the left of the line were two X-type waggons, one with its side stove in and the other with the woodwork splintered. The coaehwork of one waggon was torn off and the bogey smashed in two when it struck the ground. A consignment of furniture for &ore was among the freight on, the train, and it suffered damage. A plough which had been loaded in one truck was broken in two. North Express Running Late * As a result of the blockage of the railway line by the, goods train derailment at Charlton,- the InvercargillCliristchurch express was 85 minutes late at Dunedin, and the inter-island express steamer is being delayed for the train’s arrival.