SEVEN WAGGONS DERAILED

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27064, 12 June 1953, Page 8

SEVEN WAGGONS DERAILED

MISHAP TO TRAIN NEAR GREYMOUTH (From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, June 11. Seven coal-laden waggons were derailed at Aratika, 19 miles from Greymouth, shortly after 9 o’clock this morning. The Midland line was blocked until this evening. As a result, several goods trains were cancelled and some delay was caused to the rail-car, which arrived at Christchurch more than an hour late. The mishap occurred on the curve between Kaimata and Aratika. The derailed waggons were in the middle of the 7.5 J a.m. mixed goods and passenger train from Greymouth to Otira. The cause of the derailment, which was not known today, will be the subject of a departmental inquiry. A works train, including a breakdown van and a crane, (left Greymouth within an hour of the accident, and efforts were concentrated on clearing the line in time to allow the rail-car from Greymouth to reach Christchurch. .AU goods trains were cancelled when the extent of the blockage became known morning, but the traffic was resumed later tonight. There was much damage to be repaired by the work crews assembled under the assistant engineer for th" district (Mr G. H. McKenzie, of Greymouth). One of the major problems was to deal with about 50 tons of coal in the derailed waggons.