LINE CLEAR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19066, 30 July 1927, Page 17

LINE CLEAR.

. + MAIN TRUNK SLIP. EXPRESSES PASS SLOWLY THROUGH.

[THE PEEBB Special Serrice.]

AUCKLAND, July 29,

As the result of good work by the Railway Department, the Main Trunk lino at Karaka, where a heavy slip occurred, was sufficiently cleared this morning to let both expresses from Wellington through, although from other minor causes they were both behind the schedule time on arrival at Auckland. To-day all the south train services returned to their normal state. It is estimated that 2000 tons of material have already beeu shifted and there are still on the sides of the line a further 7000 tons to shift before all traces of the slip are removed.

Last evening the passengers and mails by the express trains bound south had to be transferred. One fiveton motor-lorry carrying mails was bogged on the main road while trying to avoid another vehicle. The mails had to be unloaded on to the road and a considerable amount of time was lost.

Mr 11. Mcßride, a Penrose resident, was injured through the explosion of an acetylene lamp while -working at the slip last evening. He was taken to Pukekohe to receive medical attention.

For several days at least the line where the slip occurred will have to be negotiated with great care, and the first expresses from the south which pioneered the way this morning crawled through, a railway man walking in advance with a green light. During, the morning other trains which passed also travelled dead slow.