BULLOCK ON LINE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 28 November 1938, Page 11

BULLOCK ON LINE

ENGINE OVER A BANK CREWS LUCKY ESCAPE A remarkable escapje from death was experienced by the driver and fireman of a locomotive which overturned and rolled down a bank 30l’t high after striking a bullock on a private haulage line owned by the laupo Totara Timber Company, seven miles from Putaruru (says the “N.Z. Herald”). Fortunately, the tende* ploughed deeply into the bank and prevented the engine from rolling into th-° Ngutuwera Stream below. Ihe engine-driver, Mr C. Palmer, and the fireman, Mr A. Appelgren, of PutaI’uru, managed to jump clear before the engine capsized. The driver was injured on the leg and both suffered from shock. Jhe locomotive was hauling trucks loaded with timber into Putaruru from a point 21 miles south, where a connection is made with a train from the company’s sawmill at Mokai. It was travelling at a slow speed down an incline with the brakes firmly applied when it struck the bullock, which had slipped on the line and was in a kneeling position. I lie engine was travelling toe slowly to throw the animal on to the cow-catcher, and it was forced underneath, derailing , the engine, which ploughed up the track'! for 30ft before toppling over the bank. j