TRAINS COLLIDE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21947, 2 November 1934, Page 10

TRAINS COLLIDE

CAPSIZE OF LOCOMOTIVE SEVERAL WAGGONS WRECKED REMARKABLE ESCAPES ACCIDENT NEAR HAMILTON [ l ItO.V! null OWN COHKKSrONDENT] HAMILTON. Thursday A train collision, fortunately without loss of life or injury to anyone, occurred during a fog at the To Rapa railway station, .six miles north of Hamilton, at a.m. to-day. The lIKKAi/D train, consisting of a. heavy A.M. engine, four passenger coaches, and a guard's van, ran through the Te Rapa station and overtook a long goods train, which was .just moving out of the station. There was a terrific impact as the engine ran through the guard's van at the back of the goods train and smashed a number of empty box waggons included in the train. The carriage immediately behind the engine of the Herat,o train was thrown completely over the locomotive, and the engine was thrown on to its s ; de. Fortunate Engine Crew

The occupants of the two trains had miraculous escapes from death. Eyewitnesses, who ran to the scene, were amazed to see the driver and fireman of the capsized engine, M essrs. E. Marks and A. Roid, emerge from the cab unhurt. The engine was not flat on the ground and there was just sufficient room for them to make their escape. The strength of the cab saved their lives. Later they (.hove a train back to Auckland. Another narrow escape was experienced by Mr. Percy Johnson, of Frankton, the guard of the goods train. He was standing on the track alongside his van after having signalled the driver of the goods train to proceed. The train had begun to move, and Mr. Johnson was about to jump into the van when he saw the other train approaching. He ran clear just in time. There were only seven passengers on the second train. Two of them were seated in the front carriage from Auckland to Huntly. They decided to look for more comfortable seats after leaving Huntly and moved further back. Thrown from Seats All the passengers were in the last two carriages when the collision occurred, and beyond being thrown from their seats and slightly dazed, they escaped unhurt. They were taken to the houso of Mr. L. C. Roid at the station, and after being given a cup of tea, were sufficiently recovered to resume their journey to Hamilton by taxi. A railway engineer estimated the damage done to the engine and other rolling stock involved in the accident at £6OOO.

The spectacle presented at the station after the accident was an amazing one. Tho guard's van of the goods train and the first carriage of the other train completely enveloped the capsized engiiie, which was very extensively damaged. The superstructure of the van and carriage was completely torn away from the chassis, and tho woodwork was smashed to pieces. The next two carriages were badly damaged and derailed, while the last carriage and van of the second train appeared to have escaped damage. One box waggon of the goods train was tossed completely off the line and smashed, while another was piled on top of it. A third had torn up the track and was smashed. Pedigree Pig Killed Altogether nine box waggons, all unladen, were smashed beyond repair. The track was damage for three chains. The only casualty was a pedigree Tamworth sow, owned by Dr. G. Walker, of Whangarei. The animal was killed. Tho line between Frankton and Horotiu is duplicated, and except for a delay of half an hour to the northbound limited express, there was no interruption in through traffic on account of the accident. Within a few minutes of the collision 40 railway employees were busily clearing away the mass of debris. An engine acted as a hauler in handling tho heavier material. A break-down train with heavy equipment and further reinforcements of men arrived at noon, and by the end of the day the line was clear of debris and the track repaired. The engine, however, which weighs 85 tons, will have to be dismantled before it can be removed. It is lying clear of the track.