MAIN TRUNK BLOCKED

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24711, 31 October 1945, Page 8

MAIN TRUNK BLOCKED

—♦ — SERIOUS DELAY TO EXPRESSES BIG SUP NORTH OF TAIHAPE (P.A.) WANGANUI, Oct. 30. A big slip on the line near Hihitahi, north of Taihape, caused serious delay to expresses running between Auckland and ■ Wellington yesterday and to-day. Passengers were transhipped by military vehicles from Waioura camp after a slip on the road had been cleared. It is expected that the trains will be able to get through to-morrow. Last night the northbound express was held at Taihape, and two south-bound expresses were held north of the slip. The combined efforts of soldiers from Waiouru Camp, and railway surfacemen and Public Works employees resulted in the highway north of Taihape oemg cleared, and passengers travelling by the express trains were transferred by road. The highway was clear by 10 o'clock this morning, and a start was made then with the task of transferring passengers, luggage and mails, the main transhipping points being Taihape and Hihitnhi. About 1100 passengers were involved, and 20 Army trucks were used, carrying 300 passengers at a time.

The express which left Auckland at 3 o'clock on Monday for Wellington began its return journey from Hihitahi at 12.55 p.m. to-day. more than 11 hours late The Limited Express, which leit e u £ kland at 7 - 15 P- m - °n Monday was held at Ohakune for several hours later running as far as Waiouru where passengers were transferred by road J° ,{. ai hape, where they departed for Wellington shortly before 5 p.m today, about 12 hours late The first train to meet with trouble * Limited express, which left Wellington at 7.15 p.m. on Monday for Auckland -The locomotive hauling it ran into the slip a mile north of Ngaurukehu, between Taihape and Hihitahi., The engine was disabled, and another locomotive was sent out from Taihape +L„f- th< ? train back - In the meantime a big slip came down on the main highway between Taihape and Hihitahi, and this had to be cleared before ?,S«*?i? er ! c - ou l d be sent bv roa <i to join the tram for Auckland north of the slip on the line. These passengers eventually resumed their journey from Hilutahi at 12.23 p.m., about 12 ho™ cancefl!d eral frei * ht trai "s have been

rJn * *s** <? ayS 3 * * nch es Of rain have fallen in Taihane th<* heaviest fall in three days since 1918 SLIPS IN MANAWATU GORGE (P TW p, WELLINGTON, October 30. +w ti • Rail w?ys Department reports that.shps which fell yesterday and todav~h°a^ r X li al \' e latest at n °™ to♦hJM^ e the main line in w^ a " aw?tu Gor &' and delayed Gisborne passengers As it was impossible to transfer them by bus the line „ Th , e Foxton ifne is still blocked by floods, but it is exT ll *? e c ear to-morrow. The Stratford line is also blocked.