FOUR TRUCKS DERAILED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18954, 27 February 1925, Page 8

FOUR TRUCKS DERAILED

MISHAP ON ROTORUA If ME. EXPRESS DELAYED TWO HOURS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] PUTAKURU. Thursday An accident happened this morning to a mixed train from Botorua to Frank ton, four tracks being derailed when the train was near the Selwyn siding, five miles above Pntarum. It appears that on the train approaching the siding about 8 a.m. and the brakes being applied, a truck left the rails and dragged with it the next three. The following waggon was a passenger car, but fortunately this held to the rails. The brake couplings gave way, and the Westinghouse system, was thus automatically applied to the whole train, which was being drawn by two engines. Of the four waggons which left the rails two were of the L type, loaded with poles, and two were of the K type, used for cream carriage, etc., this being the morning cream train to the factories along the line as far as Frankton. After the accident the engines brought the front trucks to Selwyn. From there one engine went ba»ck for the remainder of the train, while the other continued to Putaruru, arriving about 10 a.m. A railway relaying gang working in the vicinity, together with maintenance gangs, were soon busily engaged clearing the,'line. The L trucks were unloaded, replaced on the rails, and put info a siding. The K waggons were turned over clear of the line, which was twisted and torn up somewhat, requiring repair. After a wait of about two hours at Ngatira the express got through shortly after noon. The mixed train was reassembled at Putaruru and continued after the express. When the jar came the few passengers on the train were not unduly perturbed. The express from Uotorua to Auckland was considerably delayed as a result of the derailment, and did not reach Auckland till just after six o'clock, nearly two hours behind time.