ENGINE DERAILED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 233, 1 October 1936, Page 5

ENGINE DERAILED.

PASSENGERS UNHURT. SOUTHERN EXPRESS MISHAP. BRAKES PROMPTLY APPLIED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DUNEDIN, Wednesday. For the first time for a considerable number of years an express derailment occured on the main line between Oamaru and Dunedin this afternoon, when the engine of the first express from the North left the line at Evansdale station. The express was travelling at about 2.") miles an hour when the leading boaej' wheels left the rails and the engine ploughed a trench at rhe side of the permanent way before coming to rest on its side. By the prompt application of the Westinghouse brakes, the train was slowed right down to a stop, and even the leading coach remained in a vertical position and was jit;lo damaged. Although there was a slight shock as the front carriage struck the derailed H'ij>ino, it was not at lirst apparent- that an accident had occurred. The passengers in the leading coach, who included several women, were caused little concern, and it was a surprise to them to see the engine lying derailed with the driver and fireman, none the worse for their alarming experience, standing surveying the wrecked locomotive. Accident Foreseen. Both men had anticipated what was about to happen, and it was the driver's prompt action in applying the brakes throughout the train that averted more serious results. It was a few yards above the bridge, 100 yards north of Evansdale station, that the leading bogey wheels' of the engine left the rails. Fortunately, the express had just come out of a sharp curve, which had necessitated a reduction in speed.

When the brakes were applied the heavy train began to slow up fairly rapidly, but Hearing the station the derailed bogey struck a- point box 1 and. although it snapped off the steel handle and connecting rods and smashed the wooden casing to matchwood, the obstruction had the effect of derailing the whole engine. Ploughing through the clay for nearly 50 yards and leaving a deep channel in its wake, the engine gradually lost way and finally canted over toward the near side bank, where it came to rest at an angle of 45 degrees with its nose buried in the clay. Permanent Way Torn Up. The leading carriage,, although its front wheels had jumped the rails, remained in a vertical position and with its couplings broken, came to rest practically undamaged against the rear ot the overturned engine. Even the engine itself was practically undamaged, but the permanent way suffered considerably. Prompt and effective arrangements were made by the Department to meet the emergency. Three railways btises and three City. Corporation buses were immediately dispatched to the scene ot the mishap, and following in their wake were vans to bring the luggage and mail bags to Dunedin. At the same time a breakdown train and gangers were sent by rail to Evansdale. The passengers were transferred to the buses and arrived in Dunedin about an hour and a quarter late. Those travelling to places south of Dunedin were taken on by special train. The actual cause of the derailment is a complete mystery. On their way to brintr the mail bags stranded at Evansdale, two postal officials received injuries when the van in which they were travelling left the road, necessitating their removal to the Dunedin Hospital. Mr. William Whinray. postal supervisor at Dunedin, received concussion and head abrasions, and Mr. Robert McConnell received a fracture of the left leg.