GOODS VANS DERAILED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19743, 16 September 1927, Page 10

GOODS VANS DERAILED.

MISHAP NEAR MANUREWA. STATION PLATFORM STRUCK. TRAIN PASSENGERS UNHURT. INTERRUPTION TO EXPRESSES. A derailment of five goods vans at Mahia station, just south of Manurewa, was responsible for a suspension of southern train traffic last evening. The line was blocked at a quarter-past seven and at an early hour this morning gangs were still working on the line to enable the limited and Main Trunk expresses to depart for Wellington. The limited had left Auckland when the accident occurred, but was detained at Manurewa. The train involved in the derailment was the mixed passenger and goods train that leaves Mercer at 5.5 p.m. and arrives at Auckland at 8.7 p.m. It was a large train, consisting of 30 goodsvans and trucks, three carriages and a guard's van. As far as can be judged a goods van ran off the rails about three-quarters of a mile south of Mahia station. It was one of the five immediately in front of the carriages, but no one on the train noticed anything amiss. However, as the train passed the platform at Mahia station there could not have been sufficient room between the derailed van and the concrete edge of the platform, and the van struck the platform. Vans Hurled Into Hollow. It was then that passengers heard a crash. The van immediately in front of the carriages ripped away the solid concrete as if it had been paper. The three vans in front were hurled bodily off the track into a hollow at the side of the line, and another van, also derailed, was hauled for about 100 yds. before the engine pulled up. The scene at the platform was proof in itself that the passengers had a fortunate escape. A few yards further, and the hindmost goods van must have been hurled off the line, taking at least one of the carriages with it. As it is, it is a wonder the van did not swing to the right instead of the left, and follow its three leaders off the track.

Two of these lay on their sides on the short incline, and the third was wedged between them and the standing van. Splintered woodwork lay in all directions and on the left-hand side of the final van, where it had struck the concrete, ironwork was twisted and bent beyond all recognition. The carriages and the 25 leading vans had not left the rails and were without a scratch. Experiences o! Passengers. Passengers stated the train was travelling at quite a moderate speed at the time of the mishap. Some had heard a slight grating sound, but had not thought to attribute it to wheels running on rough scoria instead of steel rails. But as the train was passing Mahia station there was a sudden bump and a crash as the heavy vans toppled down over the incline. The collision with the platform brought the final van and the carriages to a standstill and terrified passengers scrambled out, fearful that the carriages too might be derailed. However, there was no danger of that, and several passengers resumed their seats to smoke and read while waiting for the relief train to arrive.

This reached the scene of the accident about nine o'clock. Arrangements were made for the transhipment of passengers and then gangs commenced work on« clearing the lines. The standing van that had been hauled past the station was the first to receive attention. It was treated in rough-and-ready fashion. Jacks were placed beneath it and it was forced bodily off the track. To clear the line in the shortest possible time was the primary object of Mr. J. F. Mackley, locomotive engineer, who was in charge of the relief. Damage to the Track.

Then the other vans received attention. The one which had struck the platform occasioned some difficulty, for in places the iron work was embedded in concrete. The van was made fast to the engine of the relief train by steel cables and, with the assistance of a crane, was hauled clear of the carriages before being sent to join the three derailed vans at the foot of the incline. Until a late hour gang 3 worked to remove the capsized vans at a safe distance from the lines. The three-quarters of a mile of track over which a derailed track had been hauled was also somewhat damaged. Bolts had been loosened and at an early hoar this morning men were walking over the track and making sure that it was safe before the two Wellington expresses were permitted to pass through. It is marvellous how a crowd collects to view an accident. Mahia station can hardly be called the centre of even a small Village, but it was thronged with people. The übiquitous small boy was much in evidence, climbing on to the roofs of the upturned vans and generally enjoying an unexpected reprieve from the call to bed. Parents were much too busy m propounding theories of how the accident occurred to take much interest in their delighted offspring.

DELAYS TO TRAINS

MOTOR-CAR SERVICE USED

Apart from the delays to the 1 united and ordinary expresses, which are timed to leave Auckland for Wellington at 7.10 p.m. and 7.45 pip. respectively, there was little disorganisation in train-ronning. The limited was weli oa its way from Auckland when the accident occurred and was held up at Marurewa. The ordinary express was detained at Auckland and did riot leave nntil early this morning. Fortunately, suburban traffic is not heavy in the evening. Shortly after the accident occurred the Railway Department organised a motor-car service between Maanrewa and Papakura, a distance of about four miles, running both ways. Passengers for Papakcra were conveyed by car from Manure*a to the Papaktsra station. The only north-bound train affected was the express from Frank ton, which usually arrives at Auckland shortly after eleven o'clock. Passengers were conveyer! by car fram Papakura to a train waiting at Manure* i, «inch arrived a? Auckland shortly after one o'clock this morning. Passengers by the tram which met with the accident were brought to Auckland by specia! tram, arriving shortly after eleven e clock.