MAIN LINE BLOCKED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 30, 6 February 1928, Page 8

MAIN LINE BLOCKED.

EXPRESS TRAINS DELAYED.,

GOODS WAGON DERAILED.

MISHAP AT WHANGAMARINO.

A main line derailment at Whanga- 1 marino early this morning caused delay j to both the outward Daylight Limited i express to Wellington and the inward i Limited express to Auckland. The former was held up for 4o minutes on her southward journey, and the latter 50 minutes. The Limited from Wellington!

did not arrive at Auckland till 10.40 a.m. and the 7.16 a.m. Frankton-Auckland passenger train was also 40 minutes late. The train which caused the delay was three hours late in getting away from Whangarmarino.

On six days of the week an express goods train with car attached leaves Auckland at 3.55 a.m. for Frankton Junction, where she is due at 6.43 a.m. When approaching the 474 mile peg, near Whangamarino station, a U bogie wagon jumped the rails and continued to run over the sleepers till it reached the 49 mile peg, where the train was pulled up. On examination it was found that about 100 sleepers, which cost 10/ each, had been rendered useless. The running track had also been damaged, and the wagon itself had its undergear torn, as well as axles and bogies broken.

An inspection of the track revealed that it was not damaged enough to prevent trains passing over it at a reduced speed of not more than six miles per hour. Meantime gangs of workmen were

hurried to the scene of the mishap, the damaged wagon was removed, and the work of replacing the sleepers and ballasting the track was hurried on with.

Latest reports this afternoon were to the effect that repairs were proceeding apace, and no further delays to traffic were anticipated.