STOPPED IN TIME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 200, 14 July 1936, Page 6

STOPPED IN TIME.

MOTOR CAR STALLED. ENGINEDRIVER’S RESOURCE. NAPIER, July 13. Five passengers of a motor-car, including two women, had a narrow escape from serious injury when their car stalled oil a viaduct and a train was prevented from crashing into it with only a few feet to spare. Only the resourcefulness of tiie engine-driver saved a crash. The locomotive, which was on a dowh grade on the East Coast railway, was thrown into reverse gear.

Owing to the absence of a bridge across the stream at Wallace’s Crossing motorists have been in the habit of using the railway viaduct during the period in which work on the East Coast line lias been suspended. The danger of this course with the resumption of work has been stressed, but the practice lias to a certain extent continued.

Instead of crossing the river-bed the driver of the car chose to take the vehicle on to the viaduct, which is 701't. or 80ft .above the level of the ground below, and when in the centre the car stalled or ran out of petrol. A Public Works Department locomotive, drawing three heavilyladen trucks of spoil, and driven by Mr R. Dunbar, had good way on when negotiating the down grade just before the viaduct is reached from the northern side, but immediately he saw the plight of the motel-ear Mr Dunbar commenced a, desperate attempt to bring tbe train to a stop. He threw the engine into reverse gear, and using the engine’s steam as a brake, succeeded in stopping it with only a few feet to spare. r J ho experience of the party in the car, watching helplessly while the train bore down on them, was a nerve-racking one, and the women in particular received a severe shock. In future the Public Works Department intends to prevent all motor traffic from crossing the viaduct.