ENGINE DERAILED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24824, 22 February 1944, Page 4

ENGINE DERAILED

GALE DAMAGE TO BRIDGE DELAYS ON NORTH LINE Delay of almost an hour and threequarters was caused to the express which left Auckland .yesterday morning for Whangarei when the front bogey of the leading engine was derailed as a direct result of the heavy gale which swept the north. The mishap occurred on a railway bridge between Bickerstaffe and Kanganui, just south of Maungaturoto, at 12.30 p.m. Part of the decking of the bridge had been blown loose by the wind and had fallen across the line. Only the front bogey of the first engine left the line. No trouble was experienced in replacing the engine on the line, although it was some time before disused sleepers could be procured from some distance away to jack it up. The train was able to proceed on its journey at 2.10 p.m. As a result of the derailment it was necessary to hold the south-bound express at Maungaturoto for half an hour, and the train eventually arrived at Auckland at seven o'clock last evening, an hour and a-half behind schedule.

EXPERIENCE IN THE NORTH MANY TRAFFIC INTERRUPTIONS (0.C.) WHANGAREI. Monday Heavy rain fell in North Auckland during the early hours of this morning. The rain, which was accompanied by a heavy wind, varied in different parts of the north from 2.4 in. at Whangarei to over 4in. at Kaikohe. The main routes in the further north are closed by flood waters and the service car operating from Awanui to Otiria were not able to make the train connection on the home route, the bus being held at Rangiahua, On the east coast the service bus from Rawene to Kaikohe came through with difficulty but missed the train connection at Kaikohe by two hours. Generally speaking, all main roads leading from the Bay of Islands to the north are blocked by floods nnd slips, and this also applies in the Hokianga County, In the Whangarei-Dargaville area there is minor flooding. Water is across the main road between these two centres, and the Mangnkahia route from Whangarei to Kaikohe is closed by slips. The main route south from Whangarei is not so far affected byflooding, but some of the secondary routes are closed. A fall of 3.36 in. was recorded at Dargarille for the 24 hours ended nine o'clock this morning, rain falling continuously from eight o'clock the previous evening. The school bus from Kaihu was completely held up by flood waters between _ Waihue and 'Mamaranui. The _ Kaihu train was delayed between Ahikiwi and Mamaranui and did not reach Dargarille until 12.30. two hours late. Diroct telephone communication between Dargarille and Auckland _ was interrupted for some time during the afternoon, and toll calls were diverted through other exchanges. WIIALE WASHED ASHORE (0.C.) WHANGAREI. Monday A sperm whale, about 22ft. in length, has been washed ashore by the stormy weather on the Ruakaka beach just south of Whangarei. It is apparent that the whale was killed at sea some time previously, there being a large puncture in the side of the body, which is an advanced state of decomposition.