ACCIDENT TO EXPRESS

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1929, Page 6

ACCIDENT TO EXPRESS

'•ONNEiTINU RODS BREAK. I-t: UM A X !•; N'T WAV TOKN IT. DRIVER'S PRESENCE OF MIND. (l J i-r Press <:so<-i:ilion Copyright.) CMR’ISTCH CJiCH, This 1>:«y. \ !■ i l l ,i> rt slates 11 1;(1 hut t’or I In; of inimt of driver Tombs, rile si“■ (; 11 >I i xpress from .the south \V(jnl l l utmost eeriainlly .huve been (leva iled near Norwood last evening. Wlicn travelling at over 10 miles per hour the big connecting rods on the engine broke. One furrowed up the permanent way, bu,t the driver applied the brakes in such a manner that only The passengers in the first carriages realised it was the emergency brake, A relief train brought the passengers, 70 in all, to Christchurch, arriving at 2 a.ui., seven hours late. Wien the accident occurred the Norwood train was already nearly two hours behind schedule, owing to an engine breaking down at Hook, south of Tilmaru, and having to be repi need.

At Norwood the. train suddenly pulled up again, it being found that on the left-hand side of the engine the broken rod, a piece of steel four indies thick, was bent double and hung outwards, while one on the opposite side had broken niff like a carrot. The remainder of this rod. had ploughed up the permanent way and but for a good depth of gravel would undoubtedly, iby striking the sleepers, have derailed the train. As it was It struck one sleeper, reducing the end to matehwood. The ferry .steamer was held back and 40 of the passengers connected.

OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION.

ENGINE ROCKING PERILOUSLY. DISASTER AVERTED. (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Official statements confirm the view that the express had a. narrow escape from derailment at Norwood, last nigh:, with consequent telescoping of -carriages -and probable loss of life. The speed was 40 miles per hour and the engine was rocking perilously when the driver skilfully pulled it up.