MAIL VAN BURNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20812, 3 March 1931, Page 8

MAIL VAN BURNED.

MAIN TRUNK EXPRESS.

LETTERS FOR AUCKLAND.

SMALL AMOUNT SAVED.

efforts to check fire.

CARRIAGES NOT DAMAGED.

The postal van on the Auckland express which left Wellington at two o'clock yesterday afternoon was completely destroyed by fire between Waiouru and Tangiwai, 11 miles south of Ohakune, about 9.45 last evening.

Very little of the mail matter was saved, but no damage was done to any of the passenger cars.

The postal van is carried immediately behind the engine, and "the train was stopped and the van detached as soon as the outbreak was noticed. A strenuous attempt to save the mail followed.

There is no water tank at the Tangiwai station so the blazing van was rushed to a point on the line nearest a creek. Here the train attendants carried water until the heat became so great that it was impossible to approach the van.

First Warning of Fire,

Tho first warning tho three attendants had of tho firo was smoke entering from tho front of tho van. It was noticed also by passengers in tho first carriage, who immediately applied tho emergency Westinghouso brakes, bringing tho train to a standstill within a few seconds.

Sorting was in progress inside the van, and tho attendants, three Auckland men, who joined, the train at Taihape, managed to remove all tho loose registered mail, 30 bags of ordinary mail and six hampers of parcel mail. These were all carried to tho rear door of the van as soon as tho smoke was noticed, but tho suddenness with which tho firo occurred made it impossible to save more.

Train Running Late.

As soon as the fire had subsided sufficiently tho van was taken to a siding at Tangiwai, the engine then returning to tho train, which was taken on to Ohakuno. It arrived there at about 12.45 this morning, about two and a-half hours late. At Ohakune a van was attached and 20 minutes later tho train left for Auckland'.

It is expected that some of tho lost time will be made up over tho rest of the'distance to Auckland. Ordinarily the express would arrive at Auckland at 6.33 this morning.