BEAMS ON LINE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 March 1926, Page 9

BEAMS ON LINE

EXTRA EDITION.

OBSTRUCTIONS TO LIMITED. PALMERSTON SENSATION. ATTEMPT TO WRECK TRAIN. (by telegraph PRESS association.; PALMERSTON N., March 9. What appears to be a dastardly attempt .was made last evening to wreck the northbound Limited express, when obstructions consisting of beams from cattle stops wore placed across the metals at the crossings at Terrace End and Kelvin Grove, the former being a suburb and the latter a locality some throe miles distant from Palmer ston North. In the case of Terrace End one beam had been wrenched from the stop and placed on the rails. It was shattered by the bogey wheels of the engine. At Kelvin Grove four beams were found on the line, one of which was thrown clear and the other three were smashed.' Un the second occasion the train was stopped, but resumed its journey, and the incident was reported at Feilding. Gangers were jJßpaediatelv sent to the crossings cSflcerned and the police were advisedi

This morning Senior Detective Quirke was investigating, but the perpetrator or perpetrators are as yet unknown. No doubt the attempt was made particularly on the Limited, for at Terrace End the Main Trunk and the Napier lines lie side by side, and the beams were placed only on the former line. A train passed over the line half an hour before, when it was clear. The affair is regarded as a fortunate escape from what might have been a serious derailment. It is believed not to be the work of children. The beams at the cattle stops are nailed by the ends to cross members, but the wood bad partly rotted and would not require much strength to wrench them from their positions.