TUNNEL CRASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 219, 16 September 1939, Page 6

TUNNEL CRASH.

TRAINS COLLIDE.

PASSENGERS UNHURT.

FOOTBALLERS ON EXPRESS.

TWO ENGINES INTERLOCKED

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

TAUMAI'L'NUI, this day.

Passengers on the Taranaki-Auekland express had a mirncnlous escape half nn hour after midnight last night when their train collided with a goods train in a tunnel on the Stratford-Main Trunk line.

The tunnel. No. 23, is situated about two miles from the Tuhua station, which is not officered, and it is the second tunnel on the lino after leaving Oknhiikura.

The goods train w»s proceeding in the direction of Ohtirn mul the express was routing from New Plymouth with a large number of passengers, including the Tnninaki representative footballers, who piny King Country licro this afternoon. Both Moving Slowly. Near the tunnel where the ]iea<l-on collision occurred the track has recently been under repair owing to a slip dnrnngiug the line, and trains have had I heir r.|K'ed restricted at this particular point. The tunnel is a small one, and nv\inp; to the speed restrictions both trains were moving slowly at the time of the impact,.

The sudden shock, however, caused considerable commotion among the passengers. Although men, women and children were jolted out of their seats there was no panic and no injury to passengers. After the collision, passengers groped about in the dark in the tunnel, and could sec the engines interlocked, the van at the back of the engine on the expres* being tcleacopcd for a distance of 12ft. Craah Arouses Residents. The impact was heard some distance away, and Mr. Cliff Crossman, King Country five-eighth, who lives nearby, heard the noise and was one of the first to reach the scene of the accident. The passengers were taken to the Tahua railway station and brought to Taumarunui by cars and buses. The first party arrived at 5 a.m., and the others reached here at 7 a.m. The distance by road from Tuhua is about 21 miles. A relief train went from Taumarunui at 2 a.m., and immediately started work jacking the engines back on to the track. The permanent way was little damaged. Passengers' Experiences. Interviewed this morning, one passenger declared that had it not been for the fact that there were speed restrictions near tlio point of impact and that a luggage van was behind the Taranaki express engine there would have been more serious consequences. In the first carriage next to the van, Mrs. H. K. Roberts, of Taumarunui, was sitting with her back to the front of the carriage and her small son, David, was lying on the scat opposite. The only other occupant was Mr. P. Skousgaard, of Stratford. These three had a lucky escape. Peoplo in the sleeping car were not aware of the accident for some time afterwards, and did not make inquiries until they noticcd the long time the train was stationary. The engine crews also escaped injury. They applied the brakes hard, and the trains met at a speed of only about ten miles an hour. Mr. G. H. Mackley, general manager of railways, Mr. J. Dow, district engineer, Mr. W. F. Langhein, assistant district engineer, and Mr. W. Bond, traffic inspector, arrived at Taumarunui early tnis morning and went to the scene of the accident. Auckland passengers on the express are expected to rcach the city early this afternoon. Wagons Derailed. Interviewed, Mr. Mackley said that four wagons were derailed behind the goods, engine. They had now been removed from the tunnel and taken to Okahukura. The goods van behind the express engine was damaged, but the engines were not derailed. It was expected that the line would be clear to-day. Train instructions were given in the usual way, but as the goods train was running a little late and the express was slightly behind scheduled time, the advice was altered at Ohura and the crossing of the two trains was fixed to take place at Tuhua instead of the usual place. A Departmental inquiry will be held.