TRAIN ROBINSON CRUSOES

Northern Advocate, 4 February 1936, Page 5

TRAIN ROBINSON CRUSOES

First Story Of Marooned! Passengers

LIVED FOR TWO DAYS ON BISCUITS AND

SPECIAL correspondent of the “Northern Advocate” is able to

ed to the other end, and, at a slow pace, the return journey was commenced. The watertables were flooded and often there could be heard the swish of water as the train crawled along. Train Stopped in Tunnel.

give today the first full details of the circumstances which resulted . in a train, with 60 passengers, being marooned for over two days at a lonely station on the railway from Auckland to Whangarei. The 5.14 Auckland to Whangarei train which left the city on Saturday evening, got no further than Tahekeroa, about 50 miles from Auckland, and, caught by the flood, which rose with appalling suddenness, it could move neither forward nor backwards. The train was distinctly unfortunate in not getting through to Whangarei. The'3.ls p.m. train to Auckland from Whangarei. got by ahead of the flood. The Northbound train was just half an hour too late.

Then came the entrance to tho long Ahuroa tunnel. At the northern mouth a waterfall 20 feet wide, of foaming white liquid was pouring on to the track with an uncanny roar.

r: was an eerie, and to less stoical lady passengers, an almost terrifying experience as the train crawled into the smoky blackness of the tunnel.

Already the line at the far end might have subsided under the pressure of the terrific rainfall. The train moved on slowly and then, not far from the exit, suddenly stopped.

As a result, the passengers had to live in the carriages and eat biscuits and bread, cut off entirely from the rest of the world. It was hardly an expedience anyone would wish to repeat. As the train pulled out of Auckland it was raining heavily, and the downpour increased in volume as the train proceeded North. At Helensville, most of the passengers, fortunately, had some food at the refreshment rooms, little realising the ordeal which lay before them. The rain was now falling in sheets. All Is Not Well.

The passengers looked at each other and asked if this meant a night underground. The minutes seemed like an hour and then the brakes hissed and the train began to move forward again. As it emerged into the open air another veritable waterfall greeted the travellers, on both sides of the rails, which were a foot under water, in a narrow cutting.

Ralls in Mid-air.

What must have been a few minutes after the heavy 70-ton A.B. locomotive, three passenger cars and two vans had passed over this section a washout occurred, leaving the rails in mid-air, and two moderate slips came down, completely blocking the line. It had been a narrow escape.

The train rumbled on past Kaukapakapa and eventually to Tahekeroa. Here, there was a wait of half an hour for the down train from Whangarei. The train crews changed over at this station and by the delay passengers had their first inkling that all was not well.

The train reached Tahekaroa safely. Here inquiries were made, and it was found that the line to Helensville was completely blocked, it was thought, at Kaukapakapa. Nothing remained but for the train to stay the night at this station. Few thought that this dreary wayside halt was to be their home for two days. No Communication.

A start was made for Ahuroa, but at this station there was a long halt in the driving rain. The guard passed through the train and took the station of destination pf each passenger. There were more blank looks and the rumour went round that the train would go no further.

Outside, the night was black and stormy. There was a feeling that anything might happen. After a further half hour’s wait the guard again passed through the train. Turning Back.

Throughout the night the train crew made attempts to establish communication with other centres, but all the lines were down and Helensville and Ahura were the only points that could be spoken to.

“We are returning to Helensville,” ho said. “Passengers are asked to make their own arrangements.”

The passengers, now that the immediate danger was over, were cheerful and optimistic, and made the best of things, doing their utmost to make themselves comfortable for the night. Fortunately, there was a usually much despised old-type coach on the train, with long seats, and a number of the 60 passengers stretched out to snatch a night’s rest. The rain was still driving against the train and in each coach puddles of water lay on the floor, having worked through faulty window sashes and ventilators.

There were worried expressions on most faces, especially in regard to the “own arrangements” question. Most of the passengers were without money, or very little, at the end of the holidays. Few could afford to pay for a night's accommodation at an hotel or boarding house. Actually, the position was that the Ahuroa tunnel was blocked by slips, and the flood water was rising quickly. The goods trucks were detached from the train, the locomotive attach-

“Oh, we’ll be able to get through tomorrow,” most people said, and

cheerfully lay down to s:eep, or try to. Those with the upright type of. seat found it* difficult.

At midnight the train crew provided tea and bread for the hungry company, many of whom had only had light lunches and a sandwich at Helensville, expecting a meal when they' reached their distillations. Sunday Morning. Sunday morning was fine, but before nine o’clock a strong wind sprang up and before long reached almost gale force. The carriages were swaying like a ship on a choppy sea. The officials made desperate efforts to get into telephonic communication with other stations, both by railway and post office phones, with no result, Only Helensville and Ahuroa could be reached, and it was obvious that the rest of the country was isolated. Whangarei and Auckland were out of reach. It was apparent that the train was properly marooned. No aid could be obtained by rail, road, or telephone. The food problem was becoming acute. Many passengers, especially the dozen or so young children on board were becoming hungry, despite having shared out all available foodstuffs.

Eventually, it was arranged for the tablet porter at Ahuroa, 5£ miles away, to obtain supplies from the Ahuroa store and attempt to walk over the slips to 'the train. He was met two miles up the line and helped to the train. In the meantime, some food was also sent from Kaukapakapa. Train Crew Prepare Meals.

In an almost Robinson Crusoe atmosphere meals were prepared four times a day—breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and supper—by the train crew assisted by the wives of railway employees at Tahekeroa. These ladies salso provided a quantity of food and earned the gratitude of the stranded passengers for their assistance. The guard of the train, Mr C. Storey, of Whangarei, and the engine driver, Mr Christie, were particularly helpful under most trying circumstances and did everything in their power to make the enforced delay as pleasant as possible.

The passengers were all cheerful and still optimistic of getting through to Whangarei. Some slept, some read and some simply dozed the hours away. They all enjoyed their meals of bread and biscuits and tea. Rumours Fly About.

Various rumours, some hopeful, some not so bright, filtered through on Sunday evening, but still the rails were blocked. On Sunday afternoon, when the rain reached its height, the roof of a cow shed nearby was lifted off and blown some distance. Otherwise no damage was done at Tahekeroa. On the phone to Helensville the train-stranded travellers learned that the Helensville engine shed had been blown away.

However, they still smiled and thought it all a great joke, though roast beef and gravy and hot baths were beginning to have a strange attraction.

Yesterday morning great hopes were entertained of being able to at last get through to the North. To the South progress was known to be impossible owing to slips and washouts. At 10 o’clock instructions were received from Helensville that the passengers were to be taken to Helensville by lorry and bus, and, by the late afternoon the transference had been effected. Not without trouble, however. One lorry, laden with passengers, broke down and refused to move.

A relief truck had to be sent out to bring them into the township. AH along the route great slips on the hill sides could be seen. A small wooden bridge was almost down and just bore the weight of the heavily laden trucks.

The marooned train was run into a siding, the fires drawn and left till the line is clear. i. A Cold Night. Sunday night was extremely cold, and passengers without rugs spent a most unpleasant time. Coal supplies were running short and steam heating could not be supplied owing to this cause. Before the end wood was being burned to eke out the fuel supplies in the engine. A number of passengers returned to Auckland by cars, joining the train south of Wharepapa, but most of the Whangarei passengers caught the steamer at Helensville for Dargaville, reaching Whangarei by service car this morning. To 'all who travelled by the train it will be an experience that will not be easily forgotten, not only for its inconvenience and discomfort, but for the humorists on board who contrived to keep the lagging hours bright. A pseudo parson created a lot of amusement and one or two bright souls, including a Whangarei lady, kept up a continual stream of laughter. The fixing of responsibility for the whole affair was a never-failing source of conversation. ; Eventually, a black kitten, belonging to a Whangarei passenger, was more or less blamed. It was on the train, it was on the lorry that, broke down, and it was also on the boat to Dargaville. The ship survived, but lost a propeller. No wonder the kitten earned for it- , self the name of “Jonah.” Possibly it was wrongly named.