TRAIN DERAILMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22225, 27 September 1935, Page 10

TRAIN DERAILMENT

SOUTHLAND LINE CLEARED CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] INVERCARGILL, Thursday Good work on the part of the breakdown gang at the scene of the train derailment near Edendale resulted in the line being cleared to allow the express from Invercargill to pass through on time. Before eight o'clock this morning the wreckage, which completely blocked the line, was removed as far as possible and a slight curve made in the line to enable traffic to clear the obstruction

It is anticipated that at least two weeks will elapse before the wreckage can be removed from the scene of the accident, as the staff has other important work to attend to in the meantime. To-day officials were engaged in sorting out the freight which had been strewn about the line. It consisted chiefly of lime, building timber, and split posts. Twisted metals and shattered timbers showed, the tremendous stresses to which the rolling stock had been subjected. The breakdown gang experienced considerable difficulty in handling the two empty petrol waggons, which still carried the drainings of their last load. The gang was faced with the problem of working with flares near these tanks and it was eventually decided to leave them in their present position and divert the line slightly.

From an examination of the line it appeared that the second .truck left the rails more than 500 yards above the scene of the derailment and no doubt this was the cause of the final crash. Iti is presumed that the coupling between the first and second trucks gave way near the foot of the incline and that the second truck, already free from the rails, slewed crossways and caused the remaining portion of the train to pile up in a heap of indescribable confusion.