RAILWAY COLLISION

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 33, 2 November 1934, Page 4

RAILWAY COLLISION

Engine Crashes Into Rear of Goods Train MIRACULOUS ESCAPES By Telegraph.-—Press Association. Hamilton, November 1. By a lucky freak of fortune at least five persons escaped death when early this morning' an Auckland-Frankton mixed train crashed into the rear of a goods train which was just moving off from Te Rapa station at 6.30 o'clock. Travelling at a fast pace, the engine of the south-bound train crashed its way through a guard’s van, threw three trucks, which were badly damaged, completely off the line, and smashed the following carriage to matchwood, the carriage finishing up on its side ami being almost torn in half. Happy coincidences marked the escape of five people. The engine-driv-er and the fireman, who were almost imprisoned in their cab, amazed eyewitnesses by ' crawling out unharmed. The guard of the stationary train was about to board his van when he saw the train looming up. He-jumped for safety, and although flying pieces of iron and woodwork shot around him, he, too,' was uninjured. A man and a woman who occupied the telescoped carriage immediately behind the engine had a few minutes before decided to shift to a carriage further back, and this happy change of mind undoubtedly saved their lives. Although considerably shaken, none of the few passengers on the train was injured, and willing hands assisted them from the carriages.

The scene of the crash, 100 yards north of the station buildings, was one of confusion as the light became more distinct. Nine trucks were badly smashed. The engine passed completely through the guard’s van, smashing it to matchwood, and it lay on its side. A bogie of the carriage was smashed completely off. The boiler of the engine was badly split and dented. All around a huge heap of debris was accumulated, with the shattered trucks, upon which impinged the carriage which immediately followed the travelling engine, piled over it. The carriage was a mere skeleton without wheels One,box wagon was tossed completely off the line, while piled on the top of tjie confused mess another truck was resting. A third had torn up the track and eome to rest alongside the others. )

A most fortunate man was Mr. Percy Johnson, the guard of the goods train. Shunting operations having been completed, he gave the driver the right of way from halfway down the train, and as the engine commenced to move ho walked down the line towards the van. Thirty yards frqm his objective he was startled on hearing the approach of the fast train from the north, and before he could take action the collision occurred. There was a thick fog at the time. 'The guard of the Auckland train was Mr. L. Thompson.