EXPRESS DERAILED.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19675, 19 July 1929, Page 11

EXPRESS DERAILED.

CARS OVERTURNED. SCENES OF CONFUSION. PASSENGERS' MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. (TtSTITZD PBESS ASSOCIATIOW-rBY BLZCTXIC TEUEGBAPH— COPTHIGHT.J (Received July ISth, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. July 18. The Brisbane Limited Express jumped the rails near Black Mountain Station, in the New England Range, early this morning. Three carriages were overturned, and the whole train, with the exception of the engines and the last two cars left the line. Both the main and loop lines were blocked by overturned cars. The express consisted of 1", o medium locomotives, eight cars carrying sleeping first and second-class passengers, and a brake van. The train weighed approximately 400 tons. The permanent way was torn up for a distance of 200 yards. The night was one of the coldest known in Sydney, and frosts were general in all elevated country. The scene of the accident is one of the highest on the line being 4330 feet above sea level. The rain rushed through Black Mountain Station, though apparently the speed had been reduced on account of the thick fog shrouding the mountain sides, and when just past the home signal the coaches lurched heavily. There was a heavy grinding of brakes and the shrill screeching of steel rasping and ripping on steel, and the passengers were awakened by a sickening plunge. The two locomotives hauling the train up the grade remained on the line, but the wheels of a ear in the body of the train left the rails and ploughed the permanent way. A second coach was dragged with" it, and both swung over at a dangerous angle. The third carriage followed, and all went over on their sides with a deafening crash, the passengers being flung from their sleeping berths against the roofs ofthe cabins. The three other coaches making up the fore part of the train left the line, and tore up the roadway, but did not capsize. The passengers in these were jolted, but were nou thrown from their berths. Tho brake van also left the line. Windows Shattered. Fortunately last night's passenger list was not a long one, but all who were in the capsized car 3 will remember the morning for the rest of their lives. _ As the coaches toppled over, panic seized some of the occupants, their screams of terror resounding along the lonely mountain side. Windows were shattered, their steel frameworks twisted, timber splintered, and men and women were flung against the swaying walls of the toppling carriages. Then, as the cars' plunging progress ended, they set to work to climb out of the windows, which were now above their heads. The task of reaching safety was not an easy one, with the heavy shutters and broken glass to impede their escape. All, naturally, were severely shaken, but no one was injured. As the passengers struggled from the wreck many were clad only in pyjamas, which formed poor protection against the biting, frosty atmosphere. Thick billows of fog enveloped them, which ! added to the confusion for a time. j In the freezing dawn the passengers lit fire 3 and huddled round them in an effort to keep warm. The sound of the crash attracted nearby settlers, who provided hot tea, and did what they could for the passengers' comfort. Meanwhile the railway men from the little Black Mountain Station had hurried to the spot, expecting to find a scene of carnage, but were astounded to discover that nobody had been caught in the broken, splintered steel and wood of which the carriages were built, and which must certainly have spelt death to any thus trapped. A relief train was rushed to the scene from Newcastle, and breakdown gangs were sent from Werri's Creek. It is expected, however, that the line will be blocked for a few days. In the meantime Brisbane-Sydey expresses will meet on either side of the gap, and transfer their passengers. The passengers' escape in this case is probably the most amazing in tho annals of New South Wales railways. A similar derailment of the Brisbane express at Aberdeen Bridge in 19„»> was attended by loss of life and a long list of injured. The line on this section is a single track laid with 701b rails, some of which had been down for many years. The derailed coaches were all of modern construction. Two medium engines were used to haul the train up the steep grades hereabouts, the speed averaging 30 miles an hour. It is believed that the accident was caused by a broken wheel.—Australian Press Association.

ALL BLACKS ON BOARD. UNPERTURBED BY ACCIDENT. (Received July 18th, 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 18. A message from Guyra, five miles from the scene of the accident, states that the members of the AH Black team were on board the Limited express. They occupied the last two carriages, which remained on the line, having been added to the express at Armidale, and they were therefore less shaken than the other passengers. When the more curious of the All Blacks poked their heads out of the windows and enquired what was the matter somebody replied: "A broken Grenside ejaculated: "Well, tell them to weld it again." At least two players slept right through the commotion. Kivell was a passenger in a train accident in New Zealand just prior to embarking for Svdney. It is understood that Mrs J. McLeod, the managers wife, was in the same mishap. Mr McLeod reports that all is well •with the team, who treated the experience lightly, although they cannot imagine how some of the passengers were not killed. The team expects to reach Brisbane to-night at midnight, is six hours late. Cundy told an interviewer that "there seems to be a hoodoo over this tour. Two Sydney footballers, Westfield and Lamport, who have been picked to represent Australia against New Zealand in Saturday's Test, were also passengers on the derailed express. —Australian Press J ssociatkm.