BOULDERS ON LINE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 223, 17 June 1936, Page 6

BOULDERS ON LINE

Rail Delay in Manawatu Gorge

Dominion Special Service.

Palmerston North, June 16.

Considerable delay was caused to railway traffic in the Manawatu Gorge to-day when several huge boulders crashed down from the steep hillside and damaged on" of the small bridges. The first fall of rock occurred at about !•’ 30 o’clock, and it is understood that tbv obstruction was found by a ganger shortly afterward. At that time it was anticipated that the line would be clear for traffic at. about 3 o’clock this afternoon. Meanwhile the express from Napier with a fair complement of passengers was held in the gorge while a gang of men worked in feverish haste effecting temporary repairs. At the same time the express bound from Wellington for Napier, via Palmerston North, was held up at Ashhurst. . ~, One traveller said that the fall was fairly substantial, but the main damage was done by two exceptionally large boulders, one of which was almost as big as a benzine case. This particular boulder damaged the supporting girder and remained wedged between the lines, causing great difficulty in its removal. Another passenger said that the fall was large enough to have caused a derailment, but owing to the vigilance of the department’s mon That was averted. Men find been working on the damaged section of the line all afternoon, and from three o'clock onward trains wore able to pass, although this stretch was negotiated very slowly. No further serious falls oecurred Several minor slips also occurred along the roadway in the gorge 10-dny, but traffic was not held up to any degree, although motorists wore wqrned to exercise great caution when travelling over this road. _____