NIGHTMARE RUSH DOWN HILL IN RUN-AWAY TRAM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23314, 25 July 1950, Page 6

NIGHTMARE RUSH DOWN HILL IN RUN-AWAY TRAM

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, July 24. In a shower of sparks an Opoho tram thundered down Gardens Hill out of control on Saturday night while frightened passengers lay on the floor. No one was seriously injured, but the 20 passengers were badly shaken b'' what thev described as a "nightmare ride.” The tram, which was travelling from Opoho to the city, started down the hill at about 7.30 p.tn. The brakes failed to grip just below the upper gate of the botanical gardens and the tram slid for a considerable distance before the motorman regained control. At fairly high speed the tram went round bends in this part of the line, but at the last corner the trolley pole came off the overhead wire and the tram shot away down the long incline towards the gardens corner. The motorman applied the handbrake and brought the tram to a halt at the foot of the hill. “We did not notice anything wrong until the pole came off." said a passenger, Miss Janice Bate. “Then the lights "went out and a terrible banging began. In the darkness flashes began to shoot through the tram and women screamed. The conductor showed great presence of mind, making everyone lie clown in the aisle. I fell on top of others when the tram lurched and sprained my wrist.”