SHUNTING ACCIDENT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 85, 7 October 1929, Page 10

SHUNTING ACCIDENT

NIGHT LIMITED EXPRESSES

Whilst crossing operations were being carried out between the WellingtonAuckland and Auekland?Wellington night limited expresses at Pokaka, just north of Ohakune, this morning, a shunting accident occurred. Both trains had be,en stopped to make the crossing, but in starting oft' again, the engine of the Wellington-Auckland express came in contact with the rear sleeping car on the ' standing Auckland-Wellington limited, causing one end of the car to be derailed.

There. was no injury to any of the passengers, but the locomotive was damaged, and the sleeping car passengers had to be transferred to another vehicle. Tho result was that both trains wcro delayed approximately -J hours. . ■

The usual practice at the crossing place of these expresses is for the engine crews to change over. This practice was followed this morning, .but, apparently through a misunderstanding between the porter at Pokaka and the driver of the engine on tho WellingtonAuckland express, the latter moved off before tho rear portion of tho Auck-land-Wellington express had been pull: od clear of tho north-end crossing points. The'engino was moving only slowly at at the time, "so, that there was little likelihood of serious accident arising. As soon as ndvieo was received in Wellington of the mishap, the General Managor of Railways (Mr. H. H. Sterling) arranged for an. immediate inquiry to be held on the spot by the executive officers of tho branches of the 6orvico concerned. .

Both trains were.stationary prior to tho accident, and tho North-bound train was moving out of the station when it struck tho sleeper of the other train.