NEW PLYMOUTH DOWN TRAIN RUNS INTO SLIP.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 June 1929, Page 5

NEW PLYMOUTH DOWN TRAIN RUNS INTO SLIP.

PASSENGERS TRANSFERRED AT PUKERUA BAY. HIGHWAY BLOCKED THIS MORNING BUT NOW PASSABLE. Shortly after five o'clock la-st night Ihe ex.press train from New Plymouth with the Governor-General on board, run into, a big slip on the line at Pukerua Bay, about two miles on the Wellington side of the Paekakariki hills. The engine and three carriages were derailed but no injuries were received by anyone on the train. Another train was sent from Wellington and the pa.ssi '"gers transhipped and tiiken to Wellington. The Auckland express left. Wellington t 1 7.35 p.m. ana went round by the Wairarapa line, arriving at' Palmerstoii North at I.4o—four hours late —leaving again at i' o'clock this morning t'(;i- tiie north. . . The New Plymouth express -which was a little kite in leaving Palmerstoii N. at ;5.2U p.m., had struck a small slip, entailing ten minutes' delay at Turakiiiu and the engine killed two sheep at Feilding. Members of the train crow passed the remark then that the third mishap was yet. to come. They got. it. The fast through goods to Auckland, which usually arrives in Palniorston North at 1.4.1 a.m., also went Through by the Wairarapa. Passengers by the trains which left Palmerstoii North ar. 0.4;!, ">..10 and S.ol all transhipped at the slip. Field's express left Wellington at 5.40 and retched Palnierston -North via Wnininipa at 11..10 p.in. .' The Railway Department state.! • that: the train derailed near Paekakariki was travelling under 20 miles an hour. Gangs have been -jusy at the work of clearing the slip, but it is. a large one and the line was still blocked this morning. Field's expresses, which travel 'between Wellington and Palmerston North, pioceedod to the vicinity of the slip from each si le and exchanged passenger:;, the Wellington contingent reaching Levin about one o'clock—two hours behind normal running time. The Napier and New I'lyinonth expresses from Wellington traveller 1 , via Wnirarapa. Last night it was thought that the slip would be cleared away sufficiently lo let train-! through by ') a.m., but the task was evidently :i much bigger one than had been anticipated. SLIPS OX PALKAKAUIKI HILL, Road connuu licntion with Wellington was also interrupted, the early morning service cars froin the city being delayed for some hours owing to a number /of dlips having come dowji across the Paekakariki Hill. The biggest fall of earth 'was on Maori. Bend, but at noon it was repelled that the road had been put in snliicient order to alb w Dm Hie through.

RESUMPTION OF TRAFFIC EXPECTED. Up till this afternoon pasM-ngers wore being transhipped across the slip, but word e.une through at 3 o'clock that the way was clear, ami it was ex.peeled Iliad later this afternoon trains would be running as usual.