FIRE ON TRAIN.

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1922, Page 6

FIRE ON TRAIN.

PASSENGERS LOCKED IN.

An exciting incident occurred on the Denilquin train, between Mathoura and Deniliquin, says a Melbourne paper. A spark from the engine, which burns wood, alighted on the roof of a first-class carriage, and, fanned by the breeze burst into flames.

The passengers in the front compartment, noticing that the wall was be coming uncomfortably hot, and that smoke was entering between the cracks and joints in the woodwork, became alarmed. There was no means of communicating with the guard’s van, but one of the passengers had a whistle. He blew shrill blasts on this, and others waved coats and newspapers out of the window.

At length the attention of the guard was attracted, and the train was pulled up. A few buckets of water extinguished tlie fire before much damage was done. The incident directs attention to a pen liar regulation, which is still retained by the Deniliquin and Moama Railway Company, in spite of repeated protests by passengers. The guard carefully locks the door of each compartment before the train leaves, and during the whole of the journey passengers are locked in. Had the fire obtained a firmer hold the carriage prob ably would soon have become a deathtrap, and as every compartment was full casualties would in all probability have been hcavv.