TRAINS COLLIDE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24761, 8 December 1943, Page 2

TRAINS COLLIDE

MAIN TRUNK ACCIDENT MANY TRUCKS WRECKED CREWS ESCAPE LIGHTLY (0.C.) TAUMARUNUI, Tuesday Rolling-stock was piled up in wild confusion and much damage was done when two goods trains collided head-on in a cutting on the Main Trunk line two miles north of Taumarunui shortly after noon to-day. Five members of the train crews were injured in various degrees, although not seriously, and were admitted to the Taumarunui Hospital. Owing to the difficulty of clearing the wreckage, traffic on the section is not likely to be restored before about 2 p.m. to-morrow. Expresses Diverted In the meantime, all express trains are being diverted by the Stratford line, involving delays of about two hours at destination. _ The south-bound train had left Franktou at 4.30 a.m. for Taumarunui, and the other had left Taumarunui at 11.59 a.in. The collision took place at a point near the Ongarue River and overlooked bv the main highway. J.he engines met with a heavy crash, and came to rest one on top of the other, while the tender of the south-bound engine was stood on end. Many trucks of "both trains were telescoped and reduced to wreckage. _ Several damaged trucks in the southbound train contained pigs, some of which escaped injured into the scrub, where tliev were subsequently rounded up and shot, while others were either killed outright or entangled in the wreckage. Their squealing made pandemonium until it was possible to extricate or kill them. Relief Party Despatched News of the accident was brought to Taumarunui by Mr. .T. Bennett, a traffic inspector, who had been riding in the guard's van of the south-bound train. Although he had been thrown down and bruised by the impact, Mr. Bennett ran along the track tor nearly two miles, and as soon as possible after his alarm a relief party was sent to the scene. The two engine crews had remarkable escapes from serious injury. The driver of the north-bound train, Mr. W. Holder, sprained an ankle, and the fireman, Mr. Rerge, was uninjured. The other driver, Mr. A. B. Taylor, received minor head injuries, and his fireman, Mr. T. Todd, burns on an arm. .Air. J. Cotterell, guard on the southbound train, received a heavy blow in the head, and the other guard. Mr. C. Arthur, slight bruises. A breakdown train was despatched from Taumarunui and the work of clearing the wreckage was started at once. It was found that the track had been extensively damaged. INQUIRY TO BE HELD CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday The Minister of Railways, the Hon. R. Semple. said to-night that a full inquiry would be held on the spot of the train collision near Taringamotu by the department's experts to determine the cause of the accident.