MIDNIGHT SMASH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20842, 8 April 1931, Page 11

MIDNIGHT SMASH.

FRUIT TRAIN DERAILED. OCCUPANTS' NARROW ESCAPE. THREE SHOW HORSES KILLED. With <1 crash (hat brought hundreds of peoplo rushing to the scene in cars, buggies and spring-carts, No. 16 "Fruit Mail" train leaped tlie rails near Gunning, New South Wales, at 12.55 a.m. on March 26, some of (he trucks toppling 30ft. over an embankment. They were reduced to a tangled mass of steel. Th rce champion show horses were killed, three others wero slightly hurt, and 50 tons of fruit was destroyed, but the five occupants of (he train had miraculous escapes from death. A portion of the parapet of a railway bridge was knocked off, but the express was stopped just in lime to save the brake-van from a sheer drop of 30ft. The train was only a quarter of a mile from the Gunning station when the crash came. The derailment took place on a dangerous bend and was due, it is believed, to the breaking of an axle. The last truck to pass over the strong brick bridge tore part of the structure away, It hung perilously over the edge, but prevented the brake-van from going over. The guard had a lucky escape when his van plunged forward on to its "nose."

Hie guard rarer! forward along the line to warn the Melbourne express train, which was due to pass on the opposite line a few minutes later. The express was not a regular one. It is commissioned only when the occasion demands, and fruit is speedily brought to the city by a special engine. This particular train was on its way from Albury to Darling Harbour with 350 tons of fruit and six horses. Awakened from their sleep by the terrific crash, the whole township was soon on the scene, and amazing confusion met their gaze. The engine, the two leading trucks and the Inst truck were still on the line, but eight others were derailed, and (he "up", line was wrecked for a distance of 300 yds.

The driver, fireman, guard and two horse attendants had no warning until disaster overtook them. The two attendants were thrown from their bunks to the floor, and as their cars rolled sideways and were smashed they were hurled against the wall. Three trucks loaded with fruit broke awav from the others and turned over and over until they crumpled up at the bottom of the 30ft. embankment.

There were two horse-trucks, in each of which were three champion draught horses from the Wagga experiment farm, which were being taken to tho city to compete in the Royal Show events.

The animals struggled madly and the attendants, who were in separate trucks, risked their lives when they tried to pacify their terrified charges. When one of the trucks capsized, hurling tho horses heavily against tho side, three were killed outright. Those in the next carriage were injured about the body. Fruit was scattered all over the place.