DERAILMENT OF TRUCKS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28178, 17 January 1957, Page 3

DERAILMENT OF TRUCKS

SOUTH EXPRESS DELAYED

The Invercargill-Christchurch express was delayed for nearly an hour and a half last evening when three of four empty shingle ballast trucks coupled to the engine of a large goods train were derailed about 350 yards north of the Tinwald railway station. Two of the derailed trucks were pulled dear of the line and a third truck was restored to the track before train services were resumed about 7 p.m. and the express, which had been held up south of the Tinwald station, about 700 yards from the scene of the derailment, continued its journey to Christchurch where it arrived at 8.56 p.m. Residents on the Main South road near the Tinwald station heard three loud reports as the trucks jumped the lines at 5.25 p.m.

A Railways Department spokesman said last evening that the derailment was possibly caused by the weight of about 25 wellladen trucks and vans coupled behind which was brought to bear on the empty ballast trucks as the heavy JA type engine was reducing speed. The train comprised nearly 30 trucks and vans, including the four shingle trucks coupled to the engine. Three windows of a guard’s van immediately behind the shingle trucks were broken, but four sheep trucks behind this> loaded with several hundred sheep, were undamaged and n<» sheep were hurt. Other trucks were laden with coal, timber, and other cargo. Measurements were taken of the track on which the derailment occurred before the goods train continued to a branch line* near the' Tinwald station and the express, which had been delayed since 5.50 p.m., passed over the scene of the derailment at 7.25 p.m. The Christchurch-Dunedin railcar was delayed 10 minutes.

A speed restriction of less than five miles an hour has been imposed on 200 yards of the line at the place where the derailment occurred.