ACCIDENT TO AN EXCURSION TRAIN.

Feilding Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 152, 26 January 1906, Page 2

ACCIDENT TO AN EXCURSION TRAIN.

A Tragedy Narrowly Averted. Telegraph. Press Association. Copyright Wanganui, This Day. A serious accident, fortunately unattended with loss of life or limb, occurred to an excursion train returning to Wanganui from the Hawera Band Contest last night. The train left Hawera with 60 excursionists at 10.45, reaching Momohaki at 1220 a.m. As the train slowed down in approaching the platform the passengers experienced a heavy jolt, and on the tram being pulled up it was found that the engine was off the line, and three leading oars were also derailed, the rails being bent and " spread " very badly. The occupants of the leading car had a narrow escape, and it is certain that but for the driver's prompt action in applying the Westinghouse brake something serious would have happened. Two people were sitting on a platform and were pitched off the car to the side of the track, while a lad sitting in a corner next to the door had a leg grazed by the sharp end of/ a point of a rail which had pierced through the floor and seat /Of the car, curving round in front of the lad. The other occupants escaped with nothing worse than a fright. The cause of the accident was probably due to the car following the engine " jumping " the points, and running on the side of the track. The engine was badly damaged, including a pair of wheels, and the axles were wrenched off, being sub: sequently fonnd under the middle leading oar. Gravel and ballasting were ploughed up for a distance of 40 yards. A relief tram and a gang of men were sent from Wanganui and arrived at 5 o'clock, the passengers eventually reaching here at 6.20.