ACCIDENT TO AN EXCURSION TRAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13086, 27 January 1906, Page 5

ACCIDENT TO AN EXCURSION TRAIN.

AN EXCITING INCIDENT.

ENGINE AND THREE CARS

DERAILED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WAXGANtrr, Friday. A serious accident, which, however, v. as fortunately unattended with loss of life or limb, occurred to an excursion train returning to Wanganui from the Hawera Band Contest last night. The train left Hawera with 60 excursionists at a-quarter to eleven p.m., reaching Momohaki at twenty minutes past twelve a.m.

As the train slowed down on approaching the platform the passengers experienced a heavy jolt, and on the train pulling up it was found that the engine was off the line, and the three leading cars had also been derailed, the rails being bent and " spread" very badly. The occupants of the leading car had a narrow escape, and it is certain that but for the driver's prompt action in applying the Westinghouse brake something serious would have happened. Two people who were sitting on the platform were pitched off the car to the side of the track, while a lad who was sitting in a corner next the door of a carriage had a leg grazed by the sharp end of a point rail, which had pierced through the floor and seat of the car, curving round in front of the lad. The other occupants escaped with nothing worse than a fright.

The accident Mas probably due to the car which was following the engine "jumping" the points and running on the side track. The engine is badly damaged. A pair of wheels with the axles were wrenched off, the detached portions being subsequently found near the middle of the leading car. The gravel ballasting was ploughed up for a distance of 40 yards.

A relief train was sent from Wanganui, and arrived at five o'clock, the passengers eventually reaching here at twenty minutes past six a.m.