TRAINS COLLIDE

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 December 1934, Page 2

TRAINS COLLIDE

SERIOUS DAMAGE CAUSED. \ [per press association.] STRATFORD, December 17. - The first accident on the Stratford Main Trunk, lino occurred to-day neai Pohokura, when the 5.3 G a.m. train from Stratford crashed, head on, into a, special goods train coming towards here. . , The drivers of both trains escaped unhurt, but the firemen, F. H. D. Quayle (Stratford) and E. L. Campion (New Plymouth) were injured. Quayle suffered "a fracture of the right collar bone, and severe bruises to the chest, and Campion was injured in the right ankle. He broke a hone in his foot. Both are progressing favourably. . . . The crash occurred at this side ot the Whangamomora tunnel, about three miles past Pohokura. Had the trains met in the tunnel itself, theie would have been -little chance toi the men in the cabs of both trains. Immediately on receipt of the news (he Stratford ambulance was despatched to Pohokura, and arrived at the station to find the ipjured men ready to be brought to Stratford, then injuries having been attended by a District Nurse from Whangamomora. Eleven wagons and both engines were derailed. A breakdown train was sent from Wanganui to endeavour to clear the line in time for the passage of the Auckland express tonight, to avoid transhipping the passengers and mails. The line A Y aS badly torn up’, and as the collision occurred in a cutting, great difficulty is experienced in clearing the lines which was so torn up that it was found impossible to build a side track around the wreckage, and the distance’ that the wreckage would have to be carried would make the task a long one. '