Three Wagons Derailed

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 155, 4 July 1939, Page 6

Three Wagons Derailed

Mishap at Taonui

SEVERAL TRAINS TELAYED Considerable disruption of the train service just north of Palmerston North occurred last evening through the main railway line being blocked south of Feilding at the Taonui flag statiou. Both the Limited express and the night rail car to New Plymouth from Wellington were held up until they could pass. The wet weather added considerably to the difficulties faced by those who worked to clear the line. During Shunting. A south-bound goods train was engaged iu shunting operations at the Taonui station, which is alongside Borthwick’s Freezing Works, when three wagons became derailed at about (5.33 and fouled the main line. A call was made for assistance and men from the railway maintenance gangs were quickly on the scene and they toiled in the pouring rain and darkness to permit traffic to pass. The wagons, one of the L type and two box cars, were not extensivly damaged and they did not contain a great deal of freight. When they had been returned to the rails, they were left on the siding until the morning when they will be examined. When the blockage occurred the remainder of the goods train was taken back to Feilding. The north-bouud night rail car was delayed at Bunnythorpe and the Auckland-bound Limited was held at Palmerston North. Two Hours Behind. When the rail car was released from Bunnythorpe at 10.20 it was about two hours behind it 3 schedule and the Limited managed to clear Palmerston North at 10.23, half an hour late. Besides these there were several goods trains held at Feilding and Bunnythorpe for varying periods until the normal time table had been restored. The main line did not suffer any damage and the delay was caused only through the work of clearing it of the obstruction offered by the derailed