RAILWAY MISHAP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22860, 15 October 1937, Page 10

RAILWAY MISHAP

TRAIN STRIKES BUFFER DERAILMENT OF CARRIAGE DAMAGE DONE TO COUPLINGS V-""' [by telegraph—pkess association] WELLINGTON, Thursday Railway traffic entering and leaving the station was slightly disorganised about six o'clock to-night when a line of carriages was backed into one of the buffer stops at the end of the platform. Nine carriages, which were intended for the Palmerston North train leaving Wellington at 5.47 p.m., Were' Being backed in by a shunting engine, and the rear of the end carriage in the lino struck the buffer forcibly, riding over it and on top of it, and throw - ing the rear bogeys off the line. Ihe coupling connecting the leading carriage to the engine was snapped off clean, and nearly every other coupling was either bent, broken or undone. The buffer—a great block of concrete —was shifted on its foundations by the force of the impact. No damage was done to the body work olf the carriages. Those waiting to board the train had an unpleasant wait while a new train was run into the platform. A quantity of goods which were contained in the luggage van of the derailed train had to be transhipped. The Palmerston North train eventually departed at 6 20 p.m., a little over half an hour Into. Other departures were only very slightly affected.