Engine Capsizes Over Bank

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 278, 24 November 1939, Page 8

Engine Capsizes Over Bank

DRIVER KILLED; OTHERS ESCAPE LIGHTLY Per Press Association. GREYMOUTH, Nov.'23.' The engine of a Christchurch-Grey-mouth goods train ran into a washout out and a-half miles from Aratika at four o’clfrek this morning and collapsed over a 10-foot bank. The driver, Mr Samuel Milton Horne, aged 44, Is missing and is believed to »e buried under the engine. The fire.nan, Mr M. Creighton, suffered slight cuts and shock, and five passengers shock and bruises. The tender lying at right angles to ihe track prevented the carriage from capsizing over the bank. Mr Horne is married with two children. He was transferred to Greymouth from Taumarunui a year ago. A later message says that the body of Mr Horne is partly visible inside the cab, death having been instantanA washout 75 feet wide was caused by heavy rain and the rails collapsed, the engine being thrown down the bank. The passengers’ carriage immediately following had a miraculous escape, the carriage coming to rest at an angle of 45 degrees partly supported by a telegraph pole on the inside of the track. On the other side is a 30-foot drop into tile Arnold river.

Traffic is suspended until 200 feet of few track is built. It will probably t-e completed to-morrow. In the meanlime road services are used between Greymouth and Moana.