TRAIN SMASH RECALLED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21251, 3 August 1932, Page 13

TRAIN SMASH RECALLED

CAREER OF RUNAWAY DASH DOWN MAMAKU INCLINE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY To-day is the twenty-fifth anniversary of one of the most sensational railway accidents which have occurred in New Zealand, although it resulted in the loss of only onq life. On tho evening of August 3, 1907, a mixed train with two passenger carriages broke away on tho Mamuku incline, on tho Auckland-Rotorua line, and after careering down tho steep grade for over six miles left tho rails on a curve, the van, carriages and a number of heavilyloaded trucks being flung about in confusion. Tlie guard, Mr. J. Lowe, received fatal injuries, while several passengers were injured. As the train was being drawn up the incline by two engines a defect was noticed in the second locomotive, and the train was stopped. After the brakes had been applied the engines were inspected and then uncoupled, the front engine

drawing ilio second one a short distance up the line. Suddenly one driver noticed that the remainder of the train was commencing to run backward down the slope in the direction of Putaruru, and whistled for the brakes to be applied. In addition to the guard there were also an acting-guard, Mr. J. T. Dwyer, and a porter, Mr. C. 11. Tyer, on the train, and they applied the brakes in the carriages and the van. Under the heavy load, over 230 tons, the brakes did not hold, and the train gathered speed. Terrific Pace Gathered On the grade of one in 33 it soon commenced to travel at a terrific pace and when it passed through Ngatira station its speed was estimated at 70 miles an hour. The passengers remained cool and stood quietly in the .carriages while the crew made every effort to check the pace, knowing that two sharp curves would soon bo encountered. After it had covered miles the train came to an S-bend, successfully rounding the first curve. guard remarked, "If wo get round the other curve we will be all right," but at that moment the guard's van, which was leading, failed to take thfa metals, striking the bank and being hurled on end. The remainder of the vehicles were thrown about in confusion. The guard died 15 minutes after ho was extricated from the shattered remains of the van. Several of the trucks contained coal and hay, and theso contents, which were flung far. and wide, caught fire. There were a number of cattle-trucks on the train and 43 beasts were killed, or had to be destroyed later. Other Serious Accidents The accident was not the worst which lias occurred on the New Zealand railways. On September 11, 1880, two carriages and a van of a train crossing the Itimutaka Range from the Wairarapa to Wellington were blown from the line and three children were killed, while a number of other passengers were injured. On March 11, 1899, an excursion train returning to Christchurch collided with a preceding train at Rakaia, and four persons were killed and over 30 injured. Another accident happened in Canterbury in June, 1905. when heavy rain caused a wash-out on the mam lino at Chaney's Crossing, near Christchurch, and two carriages were telescoped, two men being killed. Three men were killed when the northbound Main Trunk express struck a goods train which was being shunted at Whatigamarino station on March 27, 1914, while three persons were killed and eight were injured when the south-bound express struck a slip near Taihape on November 17, 1918. The worst accident in New Zealand railway history occurred from a similar cause at Ongarue, near Taumarunui, on the morning of July 6, 1923, when the south-bound express struck a heavy fall in a cutting and 17 persons were killed and 30 were injured. When the Palmerston North-Napier mail train was derailed near Opapa, Hawke's Bay, on September 22, 1925, two people were killed and many injured. Since that date there has only been one accident involving minor injury to passengers. Three ladies on the Palmerston North-Wellington mail train suffered slight injury in a derailment near Pukerua, Bay on March 22, 1929. For tho past three years the railway service has carried passengers without injury or fatality.