TRAIN BLOWN OFF LINE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 February 1936, Page 6

TRAIN BLOWN OFF LINE.

. PASSENGERS ESCAPE LIGHTLY Several persons were injured, two sufficiently to need medical attention and one having to be sent to hospital, when two passenger coaches and the guard's van of the second excursion train from Palmerston North to Wellington yesterday were blown off the line near Makerua.

The train, comprising seven coaches and a van, left Palmcrston North at 9.7 a.m. It had been preceded by the first of the excursion trains at 5.35 and by an excursion train from Wanganui a little later. "It Avas blowing a gale when we left," said the guard, Mr. 11. Shirley, of Palmerston North, when in conversation Avitli a reporter last evening,' and the further avc Avcnt the Avorse it became. After we left Longburn I could not Avalk between the carriages, so hard Avas the wind Ijloaving.

"About half-a-mile on the Palmerston North side of Makerua, a gale of Avind caught the last two cars and the van and threAv them over the bank into the Makerua swamp —at present dry but in w.nter under water—where they landed on their sides, about 12 feet doAvn and 12 feet from the line."

Fortunately the couplings between the derailed cars and the rest of tho train broke, and the Westinghouse brakes Averc automatically applied to the portion of the train still on the line, it coming to a standstill after going on another three chains. Prior to the mishap the train Avas travelling at about 25 miles an hour.

Of the two derailed passenger coaches the one nearest to the van -as a first-class carriage, containing only one passenger, but the other, a secondclass car, carried 'between 20 aim 30 travellers, more than in any other carriage on the train. The guard 's van and the first-class- carriage came to rest still coupled together, but tho other carriage finished about a car's length aAA-ay. In both carriages the AvindoAvs were broken and the chairs and other fixtures wrenched from their positions. The passengers in second-class car were thrown all over the place, a number receiving injuries. Fortunately a door was free and the passengers Avere able to craAvl out, assistance being given those avlio were injured. The only passenger in the first-class car Avas a man, for whom the door had Ito be prised open. Fortunately he escaped injury. Mr. Shirley, the giard, the only occupant of the van, was thrown into a corner, receiving a bruised arm, leg and back, as well as temporal-/ concussion from a hit on the head. lie had to break a AvindoAV to get out of the van. Those injured in the second-class car were: — Miss Stevenson Wright, the Terrace, Wellington: Injured hand; sent to a doctor at Levin to have stitches inserted.

The infant child, a f'eAv months old, of Mrs. Sutherland, of Ferguson street. Palmerston North: Head injuries; sent to Palmerston North Hospital. Her conditions last evening was reported as satisfactory. Miss Henderson, 97 College Street, Palmerston North: Cut hand.

Hazel Howell, Paraparaumu, about eight years old: Cut hand and slight concussion.

Miss Drury, 333 BroadAvay, Pal merston North: Cut hand.

"The passengers behaved splendidly; there was no panic Avhatsoever," said the guard. "They Ave re out on their own and I didn't hear a single scream."

All the passengers were put in the cars still on the line and the train moved on to Makerua station, which is protected by a large hill. There the train stopped for five hours, it being unsafe to pr eed further. The engine, the only portion of the train Avhich could safely proceed while the gale Avas at its height, Avent on to Shannon on its OAvn to procure food and bring back the district nurse to look after the injured, avlio avc re given first-aid treatment on the spot.

The train finally left Makerua at 3 o'clock, going on to Wellington. At. the scene of the mishap the rails Ave re badly buckled, but gangs from Tokomuru and Shannon, after an enforced delay of tAvo hours, during Avhich the wind prevented them from standing up, finally rectified the damage, making the line passable.