FOULS POINTS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1938, Page 8

FOULS POINTS

EIGHTY-TON ENGINE OFF RAILS. SYDNEY, Sep, 15. An PO-ton railway engine ran off the line at a siding at Hawkesbury river yesterday. .It crashed into a telegraph pole, which prevented it from falling 20 feev down an embankment into the Hawkesbury River. The engine rested on the pole for four hours. The pole swayed perilously -when the engine hit it, and the telegraph wires were broken.

When the engine ran off the line ; the driver, George . Hunt, of Enfield, made no attempt to,jump from the cabin. “It’s the narrowest, escape I ever hope to have,” he said.

The engine was. at such an angle when it came to rest On the pole that it was almost impossible to stand upright in the cabin. The engine was hauling trucks of coal from Newcastle.

When it reached Hawkesbury River station, about 11. .30 a,m.; the train was diverted to a siding to allow a passenger train to pass. ; ■ ■ >

Returning to the main line ; the engine fouled the points.

Four of the wheels of the tender were also derailed. *

Miss Hazel White, who saw the accident, said: — . “I could not believe my eyes when 1 saw that' slender pole holding the engine up.”

The engine was hauled on to the rails by a special crane shortly after 4 p.m.