Huge Subsidence Blocks Railway
WANGANUI, Sat (Sp.).— Blocked by a subsidence 12 miles north of Wanganui the main railway line to Wanganui will be closed to traffic for an indefinite period. The ground fell away from below four or five chains of line to a depth of 50ft in places, in one of the largest subsidences in the history of New Zealand. Railway engineers and a geologist from the Department of Scientific and Industrial research were on the scene yesterday to confer on the best method of overcoming the difficulty. In the meantime, passengers will be transferred to buses for the final stage of the journey to Wanganui. Trouble was expected in the area, as slips were noticed two weeks ago following excessive rainfall, and a gang of men was on the scene attempting to consolidate the track when the landslide rolled down the hillside into a stream. It is estimated that 10.000yds moved from beneath the line alone.
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Bibliographic details
Northern Advocate, 6 August 1949, Page 4
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159Huge Subsidence Blocks Railway Northern Advocate, 6 August 1949, Page 4
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