A RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12588, 24 August 1901, Page 8

A RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

THE EXPRESS DELAYED FOR TWO HOURS. At about ten o’clock yesterday an accident occurred to the morning train from Ashburton to Christchurch. When it was running along between. Weedons and Templeton the passengers, numbering about a dozen, felt a severe jolting, and the train was stopped soon afterwards. The axle of one of the carriages had broken, and the carriage and a waggon left the road. As soon as the train was brought to a standstill, the passengers, several of whom had been somewhat alarmed, alighted, and word of the accident was sent, as soon as possible, to Christchurch. It was not long before the gangers had got to work, and, though the line had been much cut up for a distance of a few chains, repairs were effected. A “ special,” taking- Mr Waitb and others, was sent out from Christchurch, in order that the real extent of the damage could be ascertained, and also to take the Ashburton passengers on to their destination.

Meanwhile, the southern express, which should have left the Christchurch Station at 11 o’clock, was held back, pending the repairing of the line. At twenty minute Is to one a telegram was received from, the Traffic Manager at Templeton that the lime was clear. Ten minutes afterwards the express, now nearly two hours late, ran out of the station. Just out of Christchurch it crosed the “ special ” with the passengers from Ashburton. The latter state that though no one received anything worse than a fright, it is felt ■that a very serious accident might have occurred. They argeo that much credit is due to Driver Fowke, Fireman Michie and Guardi Angus for their presence of mind. The passengers have expressed their sentiments in the following testimonial; —• “We the undersigned passengers by the morning train starting from Ashburton this day, August 23, 1901, which met with an accident between Rolleston and Templeton, desire to place on record, and to bring under the notice of the proper authorities, our Mgh appreciation of ■ .the ability and coolness displayed by Enginedriver 0. Fowke, Fireman D. Michie, and Guard W. Angus, in keeping their train extended by applying brakes in the vans and still hauling wittx the engine. In our opinion, unless this had been done, a. very serious accident would have occurred, —Mrs Duncan Sinclair, Miss Aggie Sinclair, Palmerston North; Nurse Long, Timam Hospital; Katie O’Connor and Lena Lagan, Tinwald ; W. Tipler, Killinchy; Constable Connell, Lvttelton; T. I. Smaill, lay evangelist; L. i). Cordner, Rakaia; J. M’Phail, Rakaia; Smith ■ Mackwell, Ashburton; T. Archey, Burnham.” The passengers in the southern express train had. rather a unique experience in connection with the accident. Sharp to time the train moved out of the Christchurch, Station; having on board, in addition to the San Francisco mail, amongst the passengers Bishop Julius, three Roman Catholic priests, half a dozen. Salvation Army officers, and a traveller for a leading wine and spirit house. Just, when the train was crossing Colombo Street the passengers were startled by two short, sharp whistles, which was the signal for “ down brakes.” The train was quickly brought to ai standstill, and, to the amazement of the passengers, started to back to the station which it had just left. Upon arrival there it was some little time before any explanation was forthcoming as to the cause of ■the delay, and most of the passengers had to wait about the platform, as it was dmposible to ascertain 1 at what hour the train would actually leave, while several abandoned the trip altogether. The south express, leaving Christchurch two hours late yesterday morning, made up one hour of the lost time at St Andrew’s, where the up-express was passed, instead of at Studholme' Junction, as usual. The Christchurch express was thus enabled to run to time-table, and arrived at the station at 9 o’clock, last night.