TRAINS DELAYED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 3, 4 July 1939, Page 5

TRAINS DELAYED

DERAILED WAGONS BLOCK LINE

(Special to the "Evening Post.") PALMERSTON N., This Day. Considerable disruption of the tram service occurred last evening through a derailment at the Taonui flag station south of Feilding. Both the Limited express and the night railcar to New Plymouth from Wellington were held up. The wet weather added considerably to the difficulties of those who worked to clear the line. At about 6.35 a south-bound goods train was engaged in shunting operations at the Taonui station, which is alongside Borthwick's freezing works, when three wagons were derailed. Men from the railway maintenance gangs were quickly on the scene, and they toiled in the pouring rain and darkness to clear the line. The wagons, one of the L type and two box cars, were not extensively damaged. When the blockage occurred the remainder of the goods train was taken back to Feilding. The north-bound rail-car was delayed at Bunnythorpe and the Auckland-bound. Limited was held at Palmerston North. When the rail-car was released from Bunnythorpe at 10.20 it was about two hours behind its schedule and the Limited managed to clear Palmerston North at 10.23, half an hour late. In addition, several goods trains were held at Feilding and Bunnythorpe for varying periods.