RAIL COLLISION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 19, 23 January 1943, Page 6

RAIL COLLISION

RACE TRAFFIC HALTED

HITCH-HIKERS ACTIVE

Crashing into the back of a long goods train, which had stopped for , repairs to a broken air-brake hose, the second race train from Wellington today—-the 9.s3—shattered an > "E" wagon and derailed the guard's van. The van ploughed through the ballast and into the rail flanking the cycling path, splintering the woodwork and wrenching off the wire strands. There were no casualties among the prospective racegoers, although many of them had an (unpleasant shaking and a more unpleasant fright. Because of the extent of the block on the line the Wellington Racing Club delayed the start of its programme for one hour. The goods train was bound for Petone and had stopped between Ngahauranga and its destination. The first race train had preceded it, but the accident happened when the race traffic was at its peak, the third race train being just behind the second. Nearly two hours later a packed train 'was still waiting just south of the wreckage. The front of the race-train engine was considerably damaged. The collision immediately gave rise to another traffic problem. The Huit Road became jammed with people and outgoing cars had difficulty for a time in getting through, but traffic inspectors, Army personnel, and two marines on motor-cycles soon brought order. Every car which appeared to have a vacant seat, and many which were fully occupied, were "thumbed" by would-be hitch-hikers in their hundreds, optimistically expecting to get to the races without the help of trains. Some were lucky, but they were few Drivers who were going only as far as the accident and who would normally have given a lift to pedestrians found it hard to drive with one hand at 30 or 40 miles an hour and indicate with the other hand that they had no intention of going to the races. The hitchhikers were of all ages and both sexes. LARGE "SCRUM" AT STATION. The scene at the main railway station was no less chaotic. Hundreds of people were waiting, some with tickets and some without, and the crush became so great that several women fainted. After four policemen arrived the pressure was relieved by allowing the crowd through the barriers. Confusion continued and there was grumbling over the lack of information given to the crowds in the entrances, the ticket hall, the concourse, and about the platforms, standing still, pushing, and being pushed. At 11.40 a line was clear and the race special that should have left at 10.35 got away packed to the limit. From then on trains were dispatched, with decreasing degrees of packing, at tenminute intervals, till about 1 p.m., when the station was clear. Then cleaners set to to sweep up the station's record of trash and rubbish for any one morning. Many intending! racegoers gave it up before the first train got away after the blockage, but the majority stuck it out. Other trains delayed besides the race trains were the down Wairarapa railcar and the trains from Wellington on the Hutt Valley lines. j BUSES CALLED ON. Word of the blockage of the line reached the Railway Road Service office at about 10.30, and within a few minutes the first three buses were on the way to Wellington from the Hutt Valley. Within half an hour eleven were making emergency runs. More would have been out but for the difficulty of locating drivers off duty and widely dispersed, and the present general shortage of driving staff. The few buses available were unable to cope with the traffic demanding seats, but they made some contribution.