RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 76, 1 April 1899, Page 5

RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

A COW ON THE LINE.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

HAMILTON, this day

An accident, which!, fortunately, was unattended with any serious results, occurred on the Waikato-Auekland railway line yesterday afternoon. The express train, which' leaves Frankton at 1.10 p.m.. and is timed to pass the 9.35 train from Auckland at Ngaruawahia, ran into a cow a couple of miles below Frankton. The animal was cut in pieces, and the engine was derailed, completely blocking the line. The engine ran on to the lower level, and the driver stepped from his box unharmed. It is a matter for congratulation that none of the passengers were injured. Word was immediately s-ent to Frankton, and a gang of platelayers was &»jn at ■work. Attempts made to jack the engine on to the line were unavailing. Meanwhile the Auckland train came bowling along, and the engine from Frankton having' arrived, the passengers and goods were transhipped, and the trains started back to their starting points, the train from Auckland passing Hamilton at half-pant fottr, two hours late. The engine is still in position, and a gang of men was engaged putting- in a loop line in drder that the return excursion train from Paeroa to Auckland might complete the journey.

Cattle and horses are continually being killed on this stretch of line, which runs through a dry swamp. The department has been frequently approached with a view to having the line fenced, but without success. It is quite safe to say that the value of the cattle killed there since iSie line was opened would have fenced it in two or three times over.S

The engine-driver of the train, Thompson, behaved very pluckily, arid stuck to his engine until he had to jump out of it owing to the angle, and then he was back again in a moment and turned off the steam.

The guard says he never saw a crowd of passengers behave so well before under similar, circumstances. The passengers all- acted very well, and gave every assistance they could.