AN ENGINE DERAILED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19027, 26 May 1925, Page 8

AN ENGINE DERAILED.

HILLSIDE GIVES WAY. DRIVER THROWN CLEAR. FIREMAN SLIGHTLY INJURED. ACCIDENT NEAR KAKAHI. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN correspondent. ] TAUMARUNUI. Monday. Shortly after seven o'clock this morning a sensation was caused when it became known that a 70-ton. A.B. class engine, which had run the mail train to Waimarino, had been precipitated of! the line by a blip between Kakahi and Piriaka just on the Kakahi side of the Government Hatcheries. The engine was running at about six miles an hour at the time and there was no sign of any obstruction on the lino. Evidently the hillside gave way and in a few seconds tho big cngino was lying upside down in the mud on a steep slope. Tho Kakahi-Taumarunui road below is blocked with debris from the slip, while further down the raging Wanganul Iliver runs. The driver of the engine was thrown clear, but the fireman, Mr. Johansen, was not so fortunate. He became entangled and had to be released by the driver. He suffered slight injuries to his back. Luckily no steam pipes broke, otherwise Mr. Johansen would possibly have been scalded. The engine is some 20ft. away from the line and it will be some days before it can be removed. As the result of this slip all South trains are blocked, but the department is doing its best to run a skeleton service. The slip is much larger than the subsidence at Piriaka and will take longer to clear. Gangs have been working all day and are taking advantage of the fine weather. "It is expected that the line will be all clear to-morrow night. The firemen in referring to the accident subsequently said he •wtas lucky to be alive.