Grasshoppers Stop Trains

Northern Advocate, 14 January 1948, Page 3

Grasshoppers Stop Trains

While grasshoppers are stopping trains in Western New South Wales, mobs of emus are destroying wheat in West Australia.

A train from Barraba to Tarnworth, in Western New South Wales, could not get through until a larger engine had been driven through in the other direction to clear the line.

Millions of grasshoppers carpeted the line and the driving wheels of the engine would not grip the rails. The train reached Manilla 18 minutes late and finally slithered to a standstill four miles further on. Sand and ashes were tried in vain before another engine was called up. The grasshoppers are increasing in enormous numbers in the district this year, as, instead of the usual three generations, five hatchings are expected. because of the wet weather this summer.

A report from Perth states that a mob of about 400 emus in the Bencubbin district of West Australia, has destroyed £ 10,000 worth of bagged wheat in the past year. The depredations are occurring in a closely-settled area, where some farmers have lost their whole crops.