WAGONS DERAILED "

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 254, 27 October 1942, Page 4

WAGONS DERAILED "

MAIN EXPRESSES DELAYED ACCIDENT AT MATAROA At 3.10 yesterday afternoon a serious derailment occurred on the main trunk line at Mataroa, six miles north of Taihape, when a wagon near the engine of a special south-bound freight train was derailed at the points at the south end of the station. Thirteen other wagons, many fully loaded, were also derailed, and the track was completely blocked with wreckage of all descriptions. Telephone lines by the track were brought down by a wagon which crashed into a pole, and railway contact between Auckland and Wellington was temporarily broken. Early last evening, gangs of men began clearing the line with equipment from Ohakune and Wanganui, the line was cleared in time for both Limited expresses and the afternoon express from Auckland to proceed on the main trunk line. The 3 o'clock train from Wellington to Auckland, which arrived here at 9.52 this morning, was sent over the Stratford-Okahukura line. The northbound Limited express arrived in Auckland at 12.45 this afternoon.