LIMITED DERAILED

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 8

LIMITED DERAILED

NO PASSENGERS HURT

HURRIED BREAKDOWN

SERVICE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

TAUMARUNUI, This Day.

. A terrific downpour, of ( rain between 8 o'clock and midnight last .night caused widespread.damage in the Taumarunui ; district, and the most serious dislocation of the transport services in the-history of the Main Trunk line. The Limited express from Auckland •was derailed a mile north of Okahukura shortly before midnight. The train wag carrying 120 passengers, who miraculously escaped injury. The train passed over a-subsidence, and about forty feet of rail shot into the air behind it. The small wheels of the engine were buried in the earth, and the front bogey of the following carriage went off the rail?, and the drag van at the rear of the traui was'also derailed. Though a eoupling broke, the other carriages remained on the line, and the lighting system was not affected.. The passeugors remained in the train overnight. A relief train went out from Taumarunui early this morning, and the passengers arrived here between S and 8 o'clock. " \

■ A slip one. mile north of Taringamotu also impeded the progress of a goods train, which had to be hauled back to .Taumarunui, the litre meanwhile being cleared by gangs to allow .relief trains to go through. Every available man was dispatched to the scene immediately, and a crane was sent frpm ■ Frankton. It will1 be e.ome time .before the line is clear, and a service is being, maintained ■ from Frankton to Ongarue. A. train from Stratford,, arriving at Taumarunui at •midnight, was delayed by several slips on the line between Ohura and Matiere, and the service is,closed down in the meantime.' ' .

The express train from Wellington due to reach Taumarunui at 12.30 a.m., ran into a slip near Oio. The engine buried its nose in the mud,: but no derailment occurred. Tho line was cleared, and the . train proceeded to Owhango, where it was held ■ up by further slips and washouts between Owhango and Taumarunui. Ten. slips are reported between Owhango and Kakahi, and the line is scoured for some distance between Alanunui and Taumarunui.