RAIL BLOCKAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22333, 3 February 1936, Page 11

RAIL BLOCKAGES

TRAIN MAROONED TWO NIGHTS' HOLD-UP MAIN trunk transfers SLIPS AND WASHOUTS Widespread dislocation of railway services was caused during the gale and floods. Lines to the north beyond Swanson were blocked by innumerable slips and washouts and the lines to Taneatu.l and Thames, and from Ukahukura to Stratford were also rendered impassable. No slips or washouts had been reported on the Main Trunk line nt a late hour last night, but it was expected that passengers oil the limited expresses from Auckland to Wellington and Wellington to Auckland would transfer to different trains just south of Ohakune owing to a weakness in a bridge between Karioi and Tangiwai. Extensive .slips between Oluira and Stratford jbloek through traffic on the Okahukura branch line and probably several days will elhpse before it is again open for traffic. It was expected last night that passengers for places beyond Oliuni would travel by way of Marton. Serious interruptions have been caused in the northern area. A serious slip occurred at Swajison but it is expected to be cleared before mid-dav. Two Nights in Train Further north there are innumerable slips arid washouts. A mixed train which loft Auckland for Whangarei at 5.14 p.m. on Saturday was marooned at Tahekeroa, 14 miles north of Hclensville. The 56 passengers were obliged to sleep in the train on Satur- 1 day night and again last r.ight. Food was obtained for them from Kaukapakapa and Ahuroa. They were unable . to continue their journeys by any other j means as the roads also were blocked, i A train which left Otiria at 4.26 E.m. on Saturday for Okaihau was ! eld up 'at Rawiti, three miles north ; of Otiria. It was sent back to Otiria and then on the Opua line, but was held up at K.awakawa with 60 passengers, for whom accommodation was found. The blockage on the Opua line ! was caused by a slip of 200 cubic yards ; near the Opua tunnel. At Helens'-ille station the locomo- j tive shed was blown down and wrecked, j Lines Under Water At Ohirangi, two miles south of Helensville, there was a washout and water completely covered the line. Between Kaukapakapa and Tahekeroa, there were five slips and two -washouts. The line at Hoteo is under water and between Wayby and Maungaturoto, there were two big washouts and seven slips. North of Paparoa, between Mareretu and Taipuha, a fall of earth 300 ft. long and 6ft. deep came down and there are several slips between Taipuha and Tauraroa. The Kirikopune line is also impassable owing to several washouts. The Otiria yards were under water yesterday and the Opua line was flooded at Motatau. Serious washouts have occurred at bridges between Whakapara and Waiotu. There is' a big slip on the Taneatua line between Waihi and Paeroa at the Waihi end of the Karangahake tunnel. On the Thames branch line, there are three washouts—at Puriri, Hikutaia and Kopu. JRANKTON-THAMES LINE SEVERAL SERIOUS BREAKS [bt TELEGRAI'H—OWN correspondent] HAMILTON, Sunday Railway communications betivoen Frankton and Thames were broken this morning owing to several wasli-onts which occurred between Hikutaia and Thames. Over half a mile of the line at Hikutaia was rendered impassable. There wj(s another break of about 12 chains in the line at Puriri, while at Kupu and Parawai considerable damage was done. A breakdown train with oO men wsis engaged this afternoon in straightening the line and replacing the supports. It is hoped to effect temporary repairs by to-morrow morning, when it is anticipated that trains will be able to run.

THRILLING JOURNEY WHANGAREI TO AUCKLAND FIRST NEWS FROM THE NORTH / " Thrilling experiences were encountered by the New Zealand Herald's tVhangarei representative during a journey to Auckland yesterday when he brought first news of the storm damage in North Auckland to the city, the telegraph communications having been severed. Communication with the Jwth was effected later when the Radio Emergency Corps began operations. Whangar,ei was left at 1 p.m. in a raging gale. Flood waters across the road at Iluakuka and Waipu were the nrst difficulties met with, after which a macrocarpa tree and several small slips in the Waipu Gorge had to be passed. At Te Hana a large number of poplar trees had fallen, but settlers aad cleared them sufficiently to allow traftc to pass. Telegraph poles and trees on the road at Port Albert also hampered progress lhe first major difficulty encountered m the Dome Valley, where the road was covered with 9ft. of water, o advance by that route was inipos?l ,> a "d it was resolved to attempt the aukapakapa Road. There again progress was denied, for five large slips across the road about 10 miles north of the . town. The only otlicr route° WaS t0 |)loC:m * ky the Hoteo Hoteo Bridge was found to bo completely covered by water and there as at least 10ft. of water across the oad J a addition, two large pine trees blocked the way. 'I he homestead of Mr. i 'it , il few chains away, was wait submerged, and the cowshed was covered bv water. A leturn was made to the KaukapaKapa route. Several other cars had then armed and following a consultation, nf ti' 1 " Solicit the assistance of 20 1 iiJ,he Works employees camped a few miles awav. The men agreed to S -4i nml a - half hours +1 k " n Wll ' s "«iciont spoil had tlien been removed to permit traffic to pass and a procession of 21 vehicles ploughed through the nuid.lv track \ generous collection was made among the motorists lor the workmen. Auckland was reached at 10 p.m. FINE IN CHRISTCHURCII MODERATE WIND PREVAILS [bv telegraph—OWN correspondent] CHRIS 1 CHURCH, Sunday Hie weather was fine, but overcast and cool, in Christchurch during the week-end. A north-easterly breeze presided yesterday and a moderate southwesterly wind blew to-day. The barometer rose'to-dav and registered 29.92 in *t 5 p.m.