A RUNAWAY TRAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 136, 9 June 1911, Page 2

A RUNAWAY TRAIN.

SMASH AT MT. ALBERT. A. SERIOUS AOCIDENT. A rather serious accident occurred at Mt. Albert at about 10 o'clock, this morning, a ballast train, coming down a decline from the Mt. Albert scoria pit, crashing into some stationary trucks at the Mt. Albert Railway Station. From particulars gleaned by a "Star" representative who visited the scene of the accident this morning, it appears that the ballast train left tbe scoria pits with a full load. Coming down the decline, the brakes, it is understood, refused to grip owing to the slippery state of the rails. Gathering speed on the journey, the engine crashed into eight stationary trucks which were on a side track about 100 yards south of the railway station.

The scene following ■the collision was one of great confusion. The engine coming into contact with the stationary trucks, smashed two of these vehicles out of all recognition, the timber being reduced to matchwood, and the ironwork crumpled up like paper. Tho stationary trucks were all heavily laden with scoria at the time, so that the impact was terrific. In addition to breaking up the two nearest vehicles, the other six were all more or less smashed up, and in one instance a peculiar incident happened, one loaded truck being simply thrown up on to another, and left standing there, like a double-decker. ENGINE JUMPS THE RAILS. The engine then jumped the rails, and fouled the main line, over which tho Kaipara train was duo to pass in a few minutes' time. Tho fore part of the engine buried itself in the debris of the trucks, the wheels sinking axle deep into the earth. Strange to say, however, the line of trucks attached to the engine did not leave the rails. The engine itself was not materially damaged, although the oil pipes, water leads, etc., were twisted and broken. Neither the enginedriver nor fireman was injured. Fortunately at the time the inspector of railways (Mr. Northcott) was directing operations at the scoria pit, and was at once able to devise a means of temporarily coping with the situation. Assisted by a gang of workmen, he proceeded to construct a make-shift line round the derailed engine and debris. The section of line from which the engine originally jumped was scattered in evory direction, sleepers and rails being littered about everywhere, and, as above stated, the main line was fouled. The ballast men, with remarkable expedition, laid the sleepers of the main line bare, while the plate men removed the line pins and undid the couplings. In the meantime another .portion of the gang was preparing the new way, and, soon the sleepers were I transferred and put into position, and the temporary rails laid and coupled. The I main Kaipara tTain was then able to pass, and to reach Auckland only 1J hour late.