A TANGLED MASS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 June 1928, Page 11

A TANGLED MASS

GOODS TRAIN DERAILED. many Animals kilLed. tr ack Badly Damaged. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PUKEKOHE, June 23. A through goods train, bound for Auckland, was derailed shortly after six o’clock this morning about two miles- north of Pukekohe. , Thirty-three, trucks were piled up in an indescribable mass,. Six trucks ,laden with cattle were telescoped, a number of aninials being killed and others dying, while a number had reel red broken backs and tljag®, necessinatino/'their destruction. One waggon left the rails about a quarter of a.mile south of this scene and was dragged this distauoe, the others finally telescoping it-. The railway track was torn up for three chains, many sleepers being no-ken. A gang was busily engaged in extracting tlie unfortunate animals, and the scene was a terrible one. • All trains, have been .held up. The Wel'iilg ton-A uc-kl.m i d express preceded i-.h-ei ill-lathi goods. Passengers and goods are beng transferred at Pukekohe and Paerata. It is expected that •the line will be cleared to-night.

SCENE OF DEVASTATION. FURTHER DETAILS OF THE SMASH. Thirty-six upturned waggons, were involved, some on their sides, others on ?n<l .and reduced to matchwood. It made an appalling picture, .indicating the magnitude of tlie disaster. The waggon next to the engine was one ot the enclosed type, and was followed; by six waggons containing forty-eight •oxen, then eighteen trucks of coal, four trucks of timber, and various others, making a complete train of fifty waggons. Evidently , the waggon next to tlie engine caused the disaster. Over .a quarter of a mile south of the scene tilts waggon left the line, passed over a. small bridge, but in negotiating an easy bend on to another bridgei over tlie Paerata. creek, the driver. Mr Currie, noticing the waggon, applied the brakes, with the result that the following wagons telescoped. Cattle trucks suffered most, some of the animals being killed instantaneously, and a number were precipitated over a tenfoot embankment into a swamp, thus escaping injury.. Several were found in a dying condition amongst, the wreckage, while several with broken backs and legs were soon despatched by the police. Twenty-two cattle are dead. .. Coal and timber are strewn in all directions, and the whole scene is one of devastation.

Relief gangs- were despatched to the sceen immediately to remove the wreckage and to repair the- line. Some waggons cannoned into telephone poles, wrecking . the line. Communication with Auckland is interrupted. Every available mode of transport, at Pukekohe was requistioned by the Railway Department to convey the passengers between Pukekohe and Paerata. for north and south.