EXPRESS STOPPED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22210, 10 September 1935, Page 10

EXPRESS STOPPED

CONSTABLE'S ACTION

DANGER OF DERAILMENT DEFECT IN TRAIN WHEEL [hv telegraph—OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday Prompt action by Constable L. Quin, of New Plymouth, averted the possibility of the south-bound New Plymouth express leaving the rails on Sunday night. As the train was approaching Otorohanga a bumping sound was noticed beneath the combined sleeping and first-class carriage next to the engine The passengers became alarmed, and Constable Quin applied the Westinghouse brake, bringing the train to a standstill. It was stated subsequently that had the express not been stopped, there was a danger of its being derailed. The defect was found to be in one of the wheels of the trailing bogey of the car, and difficulty in removing the carriage caused a delay of five hours to the express. The train left Auckland separately from the limited express on Sunday evening owing to heavy traffic. When tho defective wheel was discovered, passengers were transferred into other carriages. While the carriage was being shunted on to a siding, the bogey dropped off, and the vehicle remained in such a position as to prevent the rest of tho train proceeding south by either the main line or the siding. It was found impossible, even when the bogey was replaced, to run the carriage on to the loop, and eventually it was dragged clear along the main line, with the engine of a goods train. The express was despatched over the loop. Some of the lost time was made up on the run to New Plymouth. The defective carriage was removed from the main line later yesterday morning.