GOODS TRAIN DERAILED

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 2562, 20 December 1924, Page 9

GOODS TRAIN DERAILED

NORTH ISLAND EXPRESSES DELAYED Weary Waits at Palmerston North ENGINE REMOVES ITSELF FROM OBSTRUCTION. A slip of earth, though in itself not of great dimensions —caused a serious hold-up of the North Island expresses yesterday. The fall occurred at a point, between Pukerua and Paekakariki. near the foot of Paekakariki Hill, and lietwecn two of the numerous tunnels on that section.

The goods train which usually leaves Palmerston North at 7 p.m. left at about 9 o’clock on Thursday evening for Wellington, and when at the spot mentioned, the engine ran into a slip, the force of the impact being so great that the pngine and several of tho trucks of the train wore derailed, the engine itself being thrown almost at right angles across tne track. The 00 ton locomotive turned on its side, and completely blocked the permanent way, while the huge tender and water tank remained attached, though at a very precarious angle. The New Plymouth, Napier and two Auckland expresses from Wellington were delayed, and did not arrive at Palmerston North till several hours overdue, tho Napier ana New Plymouth being combined as far as Palmerston North. The passengers of these trains had to tranship ana walk around the derailed engine, but the line was later cleared, largely ny a stroke of good fortune, and the subsequent trains were allowed to come through the permanent way. A proposal to deviate tho 'me around tho derailment was considered almost impracticable, and was later found to be unnecessary, tho engine shifting itself clear of the track when the workers removed the tender. The driver of the train, Mr Southey, or Wellington, was slightly injured as a result of the collision. It was difficult from an Inspection of the spot to ascertain whether the engine had run into the slip, or whether the earth had fallen on tho engine as the train was speeding on through the darkness. The accident was reported to have occurred at about three o’clock yesterday morning. A "limited” express of racehorses for the Auckland meeting, which was to have been taken through last night will now be sent through after rac second Auckland this evening. There will be a full train of horses.

At Palmerston Station. The first intimation the man in the street at Palmerston North received that something was amiss with the service, was late in the morning, when a crowd began to turn up at the railway station to check luggage for the New Plymouth express, which was due to arrive at 11.55 a.m. It was fould that no official estimate could be given of tbe time of the train’s expected arrival. The crowd waited, and at 2 p.m. it was still waiting, though by this time all eyes were turned towards the western end of the platform, in expectation of the appearance of tho express around tho corner. It came just before 2.30 p.m., and then the rush for scats began. The train was a long one, however, for the Napier and New Plymouth expresses had been combined. and tho Napier passengers were transferred at Palmerston North to a train leaving on their own line a few minutes later. Luggage of any description—-except of course, the passenger’s personal effects —was conspicuous by its absence, for this could not be transferred in such a small space of tunc. The passengers had been compelled to leave their train when they arrived at the scene of the derailment, and walk around the disabled and almost inverted engine and enter another train which was waiting for them on this side.' They were thus conveyed to Paekakariki thence to Palmerston North. The material which descended on tho line was of a loose variety, and easily removable. The slip had boon cleared away before the New Plymouth express arrived there. _ On account of tho accessibility ot. the waiting train, no hardship was entailed beyond an isolated case oi two. in which a mother was compelled to carry an infant across, as well as her personal luggage, at_ tho same time leading another child over the path. Some of those in the waiting train this side of tho slip were hold up for a while in the darkness of one of the tunnels. Three Hours’ Wait. After the departure of tho Napier and New Plymouth expresses, tho crowd which had by this time arrived at the station in order to got away on the Auckland express at 3.55 p.m., commenced a weary wait of nearly three hours. Women and children sat around on bags and portmanteaux, men loitered impatiently around, unable to go any distance from tho station, and young girls walked the platform till this occupation _ became too tiresome, and they joined the great majority of recliners on sundry parcels of luggage. It was a weary crowd indeed that stirred itself at 6.35 p.m. when the shrill blast of a whistle heralded tho approach of the first Auckland express. The train was packed, and those who left it from here, were replaced by eager Palmorstonians, Many were left standing on tho platform when this train pulled out at 6.45. About half an hour later, however, me second Auckland express pulled m there being an abundance of accommodation for a large number or passengers from Palmerston North. These vacant seats would doubtless be filled as the train proceeded north, as no room would be forthcoming on the earlier one. Both the first and second Auckland expresses left Wellington on time, ana were forced to wait about two hours and a half at Pukerua. while the efforts of the break-down gang maac tho track clear for the passage or the train. How Line was Cleared, When the position of the engine was viewed in the morning, as the passengers were being transferred from the New Plymouth express, it was thought by those in cnarge of the work that there would be only one possible manner in which to rc-opcn the track—difficult though it appeared. That was slightly to deviate the line, so that the trains could run around the overturned engine, and continue their way unchecked. The difficulty of such a project was realised when the spot was viewed. On the one aide a- huge cliff rose

sharply, with an ominous surface, suggesting another slip at any moment, while on tho other side of the line -was a steep decline to the sea, and a drop of between 30 and 40 feet. Where Chance Stepped In. Chance favoured the workers, however for when they were commencing their work, and had mode up their minds to attempt something of the sort, an effort was made to remove the tender of the engine, which was stuck fast to tho track at almost a right angle to the engine itself. The connection which held the engine and the tender together was severed, and immediately there was a movement in the massive locomotive itself. It slipped down into the earth a little more and remained stationary about 6 feet clear of the track. The removal of the tender wa s comparatively easy, and the permanent way was quickly restored to its normal condition. It was later stated that it would have been impracticable to attempt to deviate the line, for the fide of the hill, even as it wa», showed indications that at any moment another sup might occur. About ten feet above the track hung very loose portion of the cliff. The two Auckland expresses were therefore enabled to come through after a wait of 2) hours each at Pukerua without the passengers being asked to leave their seats. Those who left Palmerston North early in the morning -5n the “limited and later on by the down Auckland, had a very unenviable time at tbe scone of the slip, they being held at Paekakariki. The trains which brought the New Plymouth ana Hawke’s Bay passengers out from Wellington, conveyed these south to the city. Round About. It was, of course, only natural that the friends of some of the passengers would display a little concern, ana varied were the inquiries made of the stationmaster (Mr J. J. O’Shea) and his officials. A few alarmist reports wore circulated, too. Wash-Out on Hawke’s Bay Line.

A wash-out occurred on Thursday evening on the Hawke's Bay line between Makotuki and Matamau, as a result of which the early morning trains yesterday were slightly delayed. A gang of men quickly cleared the stoppages, and the Napier express was enabled to come through as usual. All Mails Brought Through.

The dislocation of the train service on the Wellington line did not necessitate any serious delay with tne Post Office mails, and these were alt brought to Palmerston North in the afternoon, and subsequently dealt with. A number of bags of parcels, however, were delayed. The mails from tho Napier lino, which usually arrive here early in the evening, were delayed till aoout 10.30 p.m. . Later reports indicate that something in the nature of a cloudburst near Norsewood caused water in a culvert to overflow and undermine the rails for a distance of 100 yards. Passengers north and south were transferred across the washout, and those for Napier were due here at two in the morning. Tho mail train is expected to get through to-morrow. “Field’s” express left Wellington about an hour behind schedule time and reached Palmerston North at 11.15 p.m. without incident.

OX TIHI NAPIER LINE. MAIL FROM WELLINGTON DELAYED. NAPIER, Last Night. As the result of heavy rain in Southern Hawke’s Bay a washout on the railway line about two miles north of Matamau has disorganised traffic. Some telephone wires being down, makes communication with the men at the scene of the trouble difficult, consequently details are meagre. Apparently the wash-out started last night, but the line was made safe by the use of trestles until further erosion took place. All trains got through, except tho noon train. The Napier to Palmerston and Wellington to Napier mail both arc now at the scene of the washout and latest advices indicate that tho mail train will not reach Napier before two or three o’clock to-morrow morning.