DASTARDLY ACT

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12391, 10 March 1926, Page 7

DASTARDLY ACT

RAILWAY LINE OBSTRUCTED ATTEMPT TO DERAIL TRAIN INEXPLICABLE MYS^LRY (By Telegraph.—Special to ‘‘Times.**) PAXMERSTON N., March 9. The north bound “Limited** express on Monday evening ran into obstructions on the line at the Napier road crossing, Terrace End, and again one and a half miles further on at the Kelvin Grove crossing. The fact that obstruction in each instance comprised large wooden rails, levered from the cattle stops in the vicinity, and also the distance between the two points, leads one to believe that the attempt at derailment was deliberate.

The late train from Wanganui passed over the portion of the line concerned shortly after 8.30 p.m. when all was clear. The rails must therefore have been removed from the stops and placed across the track between that time and 10 p.m., when the “Limited” left Palmerston North on her northward journey. A single rail at the Napier road crossing waa shattered by the impact, but no- attempt was made to stop the train until the obstruction at the next crossing was met, when it was found that four rails had been plp.ced« across at that point. The cowcatcher had again thrown the timber aside, thus preventing a derailment. The engine was undamaged. The train shortly afterwards proceeded on its journey. At Feilding the matter was reported, and a ganger immediately proceeded to both localities. The police were also informed, and Senior-Detective Quirke has inquiries in hand.