CLEARING THE TRACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22878, 5 November 1937, Page 10

CLEARING THE TRACK

EARLY MORNING WORK LINE COMPLETELY BLOCKED CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT With a large breakdown gang to be mustered, train-running instructions for night traffic in the vicinity of Auckland, to be amended and the track to be cleared, railway officials had a period of great activity following the collision. Senior officials were called from their homes and representatives of the train-control, locomotive and engineering staffs were directing operations at 10 o'clock. In spite of the fact that the line was completely blocked, there was little obvious dislocation of traffic, as timetables were hurriedly adjusted to enable incoming and outgoing trains to make use of the Orakei route. One goods train, inward-bound, was hold up for a period behind the runaway, but was subsequently taken back to a convenient point and diverted. There was very little delay to the services. Man-power was the first requirement. Within a few minutes of the collision, steps were taken to muster, a large break-down gang, and taxis were commissioned to bring men from their homes in all parts of the city and suburbs. Others were called by telephone, and steam was raised in sp.aro locomotives and in the massive breakdown crane.

Experts made a preliminary inspection of the damage by the light of electric torches and acetylene flares, and a determined effort to clear the debris was made shortly after midnight. It was impossible to calculate what damage had been caused to the permanent way, and as a result no indication could be given as to the time necessary to make the lino available to traffic. Senior officials of the department stated last niglit that it was apparent that the shunt train had become out of control, and it appeared probable that the brakes had failed. Obviously, however, no precise information could be given until an inquiry had been held.