REMARKABLE ESCAPE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12017, 20 December 1924, Page 5

REMARKABLE ESCAPE

IN RAILWAY SLIP ENGINE RESTS ON BRINK Oh’ PAEKAKARIKI PRECIPICE. DRIVER AND FIREMAN LUCKY. The heavy rains caused a dangerous slip on the railway line a ■ couple of miles this side of Paekakariki station, and while the Railway Department may be a heavy loser financially no life was lost. The absence from fatal accident, however, is little short of marvellous. j WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. The “Times” story of the accident was obtained from a high officer of the Railway Department shortly after his return from - the scene of the ■ trouble. He says the trouble ocourred at 3,35 a.m. yesterday morning shortly after the 7 p;m. Palmerston North-Weliing-ton gobdls train left Paekakariki. Between the first and the second of, the series of tunnels lying to the southward of Paekakariki the engine ran into a slip which had, come down from the high cliffs above. The engine was derailed and turned over on its side. The tender of the engine also was derailed, but it remained m an upright position. The slip was encountered just after the train had rounded a bend and there was no chance of the driver avoiding The collision with the fall of earth. WONDERFUL ESCAPE. The escape of the - driver, and the fireman was remarkable. Although, the engine was oast over on its': side, both escaped serious injury. Driver, Southall suffered a sprained ankle, and the fireman got off with a shaking. However, they were within an ace of almost certain death. ' The track at the place where the accident happened ,is cornered out of the cliff and on the sea side there is a> drop from the track to the beach of about 750 feet. On the narrow ledge between the rails and the precipitous drop the engine held. Had'it gone another foot or so, there would have been a very sad ’story to relate. SLIPPING TOWARD THE BEACH. Tbe engine lav on its side on the top of the cliff and before the tender could be removed the connecting rods had to be sawn. Immediately after tbe engine and the tender were separated’ the engine moved slightly down incline, and cleared the running track. 'That took place about 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon. . The tender of the engine was taken back’to Paekakariki and the work of clearing the line of the land dip was proceedtedi with. About 300 or 400 yards of earth had to he refnoved, and as big a staff as possible was put on to tbe work. MEETING THE EMERGENCY. ' ’ Meanwhile the Railway Deportment in Wellington made arrangements to with the traffic both in and out of) the city which was affected by the interruption in the line. The New Plymouth arid the Napier mail trains wore dispatched from Wellington, at 9.35 a.m. coupled together, and at the scene of the ' accident the passengers were transferred to a traiu waiting on the other side of the slip. By the time the New Plymouth train got fairly on its journey it was a couple of hours late, and the Namier mail was about an horir late. Tbe combined train got through to Paekakariki at 12.10 p.m. v The Auckland express due in Wellington at 6.45 a.m— and the “Limited.” due here at 9.35 a.m.. both: were delayed at ’Paekakariki, and their passengers were transferred, to a train waiting on the south Bide of the slip. These passengers were brought into Wellington soon after' midday. Passings ra by the express from Auckland, due in Wellington at 1.60 p.m., also had to be transferred at the slip, and they , reached Wellington at S.GOf'p.m. _ - THE PASSENGERS’ LOT. The transference of the passengers was effected with 1 a minimum of inconvenience and discomfort to them. They had to walk about 80 yards. A track was formed across the slip, but as the path- was/narrow the passage waa made in single file: and the progress. was therefore slow. There were about 400 passengers on the combined New Plymouth-Napfer train, .sand there transference Was by no means a matter of a moment.. However, plenty willing railway hands assisted m the work of dealing .with the luggage and the mails. With some of the railwaytnen their ordinary woTk had been interrupted iby the accident, so they set to Work to assist in meeting the emergency. In all the circumstances, the transfer. was quite comfortably mode, and there, was little .inconvenience except the delay. Rain was not falling as bard at ’Paekakariki as it was in (Wellington. POSSIBLE LOSS -OF £9OOO. The engine which waa derailed waa of the AB class, ohe of the largest engines in use on the New Zealand Railways. It weighs between 70 and 80 tons, and as it was hangiim in- the balance On the brink oF a track that was not natural ground, /it was feared it would fall on to the beach and be lost beyond recovery. If this happens the loss to the Railway Department will be heavy as the engine, even without the tender, cost about £9OOO. the evening trains. The 12.45 p.m. express for Auckland was delayed at Pukerua awhile, but eventually got through without great delay. Field’s express, due out of Wellington at 5.55 p.m.. also got through. The “Limited,” due to leave 'Thorndon at 7,10 p.m. was delayed till 8.15, but it was reported to have got through safely. Tbs New Plymouth and the Napier mail trains inward reached Wellington late, but safe, last evening: OTHER SLIPS • ONE ON NAPIER LINE. A small slip occurred on Thursday night on the Napier line between Matamiau and Makotuku, but it was cleared for traffic yesterday morning. ANOTHER AT DALEFIELD. .There was another small slip at .Dalefleld on the Wadrarapa line, hut matters were righted without any. important dislocation of traffic occurring. CARTERTON YARDS UNDER WATER. Carterton railway yards were under water yesterday, hut the trains were able to get through.