DELAY ON RAILWAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21346, 22 November 1932, Page 8

DELAY ON RAILWAY

BREAK IN SIGNAL WIRE

LIMITED EXPRESS LATE

RACE TRAIN ALSO AFFECTED

Railway traffic on the southern line was interrupted for a period last evening owing to the breaking of an electric-power wire near Mahia, south of Papatoefoe. Among the trains which were delayed was the limited express to Wellington. The wire served the electric signals between Westfield and Mercer, with the result that both tracks to Papakura and the single line beyond to Mercer were affected. As soon as the wire failed, all signals went immediately to danger. The break occurred at 5.52 p.m., and the fault was located and repaired at 8.30. The limited express was controlled by telegrams sent to each station from the Auckland train-running office. As all signals were at danger, it was necessary to despatch a separate authority to each station to allow the train to pass' while other trains were held on sidings to allow it to cross. Although such a complicated system had to be employed, the train was only 14 minutes late in reaching Frankton Junction, where it is normally due at 9.14 p.m. The train which was most affected was the special race train returning to Auckland from the Te Rapa course, Hamilton. The last event was run late and the train was 21 minutes after scheduled time in leaving, being despatched at 6.11 p.m. It was forced to wait 20 minutes at Pokeno, where it was passed by the express, and lost further time on the run to Auckland, arriving at 9.54 p.m., instead of its scheduled time of 9.8. There were about 100 passengers on board. The mixed train which left Frankton at 3 p.m. for Auckland was delayed 40 minutes, and arrived at 9.36 p.m. Other mixed trains on the line were delayed about 10 minutes, while goods trains lost a great deal of time. Most of them were side-tracked at various stations to leave the line clear for more essential trains, which were given precedence. The suburban service was not affected.