TRUCKS DERAILED IN EARLY MORNING SMASH

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6918, 23 July 1932, Page 7

TRUCKS DERAILED IN EARLY MORNING SMASH

Accident to Express Goods Train NEAR KAKARIKI STATION Fourteen open and covered trucks were derailed a few chains on the Fcilding side of tho Kakariki railway station at 2.30 o’clock yesterday morning when the axle of one truck of tnc express goods from Wellington broke. This train, which leaves Wellington at about 7 p.m., passed through Fcilding at 1.15 a.m. yesterday. Tho train was on the point of slowing up for a momentary halt at the Kakariki station to permit the guard to pilot it over the bridge wlieu the accident occurred. First the damaged truck became unrailed and then 13 others became similarly displaced to end up with much bumping and crashing about directly outside the railway cottage occupied by Mr. Williams anti his family. Here tho permanent v.-ay is close up alongside the residence and very fortunately for the sleeping occupants, tho trucks and heavy vans fell away from the house. Had they fallen towards the house there is no doubt that the occupants would have suffered for tho vehicles would most certainly have crashed through the wall of the

dwelling. Mr. Williams was awakened, by the sounds arising from the bumping and screeching trucks and got outside just as the train came to a. standstill with the centre portion of its complement derailed and in a much entangled condition. Fortunately the last three trucks and the guard's van held to the line and finished up on the Kakariki s : /c of the small bridge which is. high above the stream of the locality. Had these vehicles come off they would probably have fallen some distance, with injuries to the guard. Unable to use his jigger, as the track was blocked and merchandise was scattered about, Mr. Williams got his car out and proceeded to Halcombc where ho aroused Mr. Fitzgerald, permanent way official, who quickly got together a gang of men who commenced to work on the wreckage at three o'clock. Meanwhile information of the crash was telegraphed to Fcilding and to Marlon and gangs proceeded from these centres to assist in the work of clearing the main line. A hard frost had settled down and the night was reasonably clear thus affording tho men a good chance to get on with the task, which was a formidable one. In addition to 14 trucks and vans beiug off the line the permanent way was somewhat bent and twisted, and at least eight of tho trucks and vans extensively damaged. Two heavy vans and three trucks wero piled on one side, -while other trucks, shorn of tfieii mobility, lay alongside the permanent way. Spare engines were quickly on the scene and these, aided by the use of wire hawsers, commenced their task of dragging the derailed vehicles to one side. Hue work proceeded steadily on until two o’clock yesterday afternoon when the remaining link of the damaged permanent way was restored and tho last of the trucks dragged to one side to leave the main lino clear and reasonably secure. The accident, which was not so extensive as the Manga-wcka affair of nearly two years ago, naturally caused a serious dislocation of the train services. The south bound Main Trunk express was held up at Marton until a. relief train from Palmerston North was made up and the passengers were transferred at Kakariki. The same procedure w-as folloived with the south bound Limited and later on in the forenoon the mixed train from "Wanganui was similarly dealt with. The north bound New Plymouth was tne first train to pass through after the accident and it left Halcombc at 2.45 p.m. an hour and 20 minutes behind schedule. The south bound New Plymouth was held up at Marton and later came on an hour behind schedule. The merchandise from the smashed trucks was piled along the permanent way and securely covered by tarpaulins. Curiously enough, little if any of these goods suffered damage, even cases m cardboard covers, marked glass with care, seeming to have escaped from any harm.