CAR AND TRAIN

Evening Post, Issue 12, 14 July 1936, Page 10

CAR AND TRAIN

PLIGHT OF MOTORISTS

STALLED ON VIADUCT

Only the throwing of a locomotive into reverse gear while it was negotiating a down grade on the East Coast I railway prevented it from colliding with a stalled motor-car on a viaduct over which the train was about to cross, and the incident provided a severe fright for the five occupants of the car, who included two women states a Napier correspondent Owing to the absence of. a bridge across the stream at Wallace's Crossing, motorists have been in the habit of using the railway viaduct during the period in which work on the East Coast • line has been suspended. The danger of this course, with the resumption of work has been stressed but the practice has to a certain extent continued.

Instead of crossing the river-bed the driver of the car chose to take the vehicle on to the viaduct, which is 70ft or 80ft above the level of the ground below, and when in the centre the car either stalled or ran out of petrol. A.Public Works locomotive drawing three- heavily-laden trucks of spoil, and driven by Mr. R. Dunbar had good way on when negotiating the down grade just before the viaduct is reached from the northern side but immediately he saw the' plight of the motor-car Mr. Dunbar commenced a desperate effort to bring the train to a stop. He threw the engine into re-' verse, gear, and, using the' engine's steam as a brake, succeeded in stopPin£ Jt with only a few feet to spare The experience of the party in the cai, watching helplessly while the train bore down on them, was a nerve-racking one, and the women in particular received a severe shock It r v"deP tood that in fl'ture the Pubhe Works Department intends to prevent all motor traffic from crossing 'the