DERAILMENT OF TRAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16300, 5 August 1916, Page 9

DERAILMENT OF TRAIN.

FALL OVER SIX-FOOT BANK.

REMARKABLE ESCAPES.

CARRIAGE OVERTURNED. [bt telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Friday. The train which was blown off the line yesterday morning between Paekakariki and Palmerston North comprised nine vehicles, including passenger carriages and goods waggons. The latter were mostly empty, and there were only three passengers. When the train reached Makerua, about 9.20, the wind, which was blowing in fierce gusts, lifted three cars, the guard's van, and four waggons off the line. They fell down a 6ft embankment, but the engine remained on the rails. A breakdown gang was soon secured, although the wind at times was so severe that they had to drive their pinch-bars into the ballast to prevent their being blown over. I

The passengers and guard had a remarkable escape, no one being injured. An old lady, however, who was found sitting on the ceiling of ah overturned carnage, suffered from shock. A horse in a special van was liberated by cutting into the box. The animal was not hurt. Some hours elapsed before the line was cleared. The overturned vans were little damaged.