SIGNAL BOX FUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23228, 23 December 1938, Page 10

SIGNAL BOX FUSE

EXPRESSES DELAYED dislocation of system TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT POINTS CHANGED BY HAND An outbreak of fire in an automatic signal box almost, underneath the Gladstone Road overbridge delayed departure of the two expresses for Wellington and temporarily suspended shunting operations in the Auckland railway yards last nighty Although not extensive, the damage interfered with the signalling and points system and temporary expedients had to bo adopted before the trains could leave the platform. The fire was noticed at seven o'clock, 15 minutes before the limited express was scheduled to leave. With holiday traffic nearing its height, hundreds of people were awaiting the departure of the two trains, but comparatively few were aware of the clouds of smoke rising from the signal box several hundred yards further down the line. Members of the yard staff suppressed the outbreak before the arrival of three fire engines from the Central and Parnell Stations which received a call from an alarm box. The fusing of a cable was the cause of the fire," wliich placed a large section of the signalling system out of commission. Some of t/ie instruments in the box were disabled and portions of the wiring and flooring were also damaged. The effects of the dislocation were transmitted to a second signal box controlling the main line on which the expresses were to travel. With all the signal lights showing red, traffic in the yards was at a standstill and it was necessacy for the points to be changed by hand before the limited express could leave the station at 7.29 p.m. The second express was also delayed for about 10 minutes. Repairs to the damaged equipment were commenced last night by a staff of electricians. Temporary measures were adopted to operate the points and enable the normal services to be maintained.