CRASH INTO SLIP

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 116, 11 February 1944, Page 4

CRASH INTO SLIP

West Coast Coal Train

Derailed TORRENTIAL RAIN (Bj» Telegraph.—Press Association.) WESTPORT, February 10. Ploughing into a slip on the Westport side of Slate,v Creek in the Buller Gorge near the mouth of the big tunnel, a coal train bound from Greymouth to Westport was derailed and piled up in the early hours of this morning. The driver and'fireman had a miraculous escape, both being unhurt. The slip was not large, but heavy rain which was falling prevented the driver from seeing it. The slip Contained huge boulders, one of which the engine struck. The big job today was not. in clearing the slip, but in clearing the derailed train. The engine ended with its nose deep in. Fifteen trucks were a wreck, two crumpling up like a concertina, and the trainload of coal was scattered in all directions. Some of the permanent wav was torn up. All rail communication between Greymouth and the east coast was severed and a breakdown train with gangs of workers went out this morning and had more than a full day job in clearing the line. An oxy-acetylene plant had to be taken, and it was necessary to cut the tender from the locomotive and also the bogie from the engine before the latter could be moved. The engine and trucks were prepared for movement to the rail way workshops at Westport and a load of rails was dispatched to the scene. A train with a crane arrived from Greymouth. but the crane capsized and the driver, Mr. R. Gardiner, was later admitted to the Westport hospital with injuries to hib arms and legs. The slip on the line was probably caused by rain finding cracks resulting from dry weather. Today’s slip was the first of consequence since the Railways Department took over the line. The rain was torrential, the recording in Greymouth for the 24 hours to 9 a.m. being 3.52 inches. For the third time this year, slips have blocked the Midland railway line and the Otira Gorge road between the West Coast and Canterbury. The railcar service has been cancelled, and no goods trains can be run. . A big slip occurred at Rocky Point about 3.50 p.m. yesterday. The services between Greymouth and Christchurch were cancelled last evening and the express did not run from Greymouth this morning. This is the third successive week in which slips about the same point have caused cancellation of the express. The work of clearing the line began this morning. Easing of the rain has given hope that the line will be clear by this evening. The road between Hokitika and Ross is blocked to traffic because of the washing out of an approach to a river bridge. It is reported that a road service bus is marooned between two large slips further south with a number of passengers. Telegraphic and toll traffic between the West Coast and Canterbury was interrupted for some time yesterday.