FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21932, 16 October 1934, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO

BUNAWAY LOCOMOTIVE COLLISION WITH TRAIN parnell tunnel accident Fifty years ago an unattended locomotive dashed out of the Auckland station at the same time as an Onehunga passenger train was approaching. Although a collision occurred, it was due to the vigilance of the driver of the passenger train that the accident was not attended by serious results. The New Zealand Herald of October 16, 1884, stated: —" Great excitement prevailed in the city yesterday morning, when it became known that a few minutes before nine o'clock a locomotive had dashed out of the Auckland station at a speed of 40 miles an hour along the main line, and up to the tunnel unattended by the driver or fireman. It also was known that the 8.25 train from Onehunga, bearing several hundred passengers, would be due at nine o'clock. " The engine was being supplied with fuel and water, when, by some unaccountable means, the steam got turned on full, and the locomotive dashed away at full speed. The driver, Bennett, was thrown against the side of the water tank house. It is supposed that a truck propelled by another engine came in contact with the stationary locomotive and set the machinery in motion. "The greatest alarm prevailed among the station, officials when the engine was seen dashing up the incline toward the bridge at Stanley Street, and on toward the tunnel. The stationmaster, Sir. Hanson, with all speed, procured a horse, mounted it, and followed the fleeing engine, hoping to be of assistance at any accident which might happen in the tunnel, as he was well aware that the Onehunga train with a living freight was approaching Auckland, and would be sure to collide with the runaway in the vicinity of the tunnel. He rode the horse up to the Domain, where, in endeavouring to get through some trees, he was thrown heavily, landing on some stones. The horse rolled into a ditch. " Meanwhile, the engine had approached the tunnel; and the 'down' train had left Newmarket station for the city. The locomotive of this train was in charge of driver J. Robertson and fireman H. Sargeant, and all went well until the train was about to enter the tunnel, when the driver saw the runaway locomotive entering the tunnel from the Auckland side. With admirable presence of mind he immediately shut off steam, and by the time the train was halfway through the tunnel it was almost at a standstill. The steam from the boiler of the runaway was now almost exhausted, so that the speed had been greatly reduced. The collision was not a very heavy one, and with the exception of the carrying away of the cow-catchers and damage to buffers, no other damage was caused. No panic occurred among the passengers."