A LOST TRAIN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19498, 5 June 1925, Page 10

A LOST TRAIN.

65 MILES INSTEAD OF 15. SIGNALMAN’S STRANGE MISTAKE. (From Qua Own Correspondent.) LONDON, April 21. It is hardly conceivable that a train with a' full load of passengers could lose its way. Yet this strange thing occurred during this last week. The 4.40 p.m. train from Cannon street to Chislehurst carries many of those fortunate city men who do not work their eight hours a day, but nevertheless are able to live in one of the most charming places near London. Chislehurst is just 15 miles south-east from the city. A signalman, however, made a mistake, and after the train hud gone a short distance it' was switched on to a wrong line. It was held up at the next signal Dox, but the station officials took the course of penalising the 300 passengers for the benefit of the 60,000 Londoners who were following in other trains. To send the train hack to its fight line would have completely disorganised the “rush hour” traffic, and so the engine driver was given orders to express to Redhill, thence to Tonbridge, and so back to Chisle. hurst. This was a journey round four sides of a square, and a distance of 65 miles. As the Redhill line was clear, the tram made no stops, and the passengers remained in ignorance of their destination until they readied Redhill. Doubtless, many of them imagined that they had got into the wrong train, and dare not mention the fact for fear ,of appearing ridiculous. Mild consternation gradually broke out as they passed the unfamiliar scenes. In the end, however, thev reached their home station two hours late. AN OFFICIAL INQUIRY. An official inquiry was held, and the following statement was issued: —“With reference to the 4.40 p.m. train from Cannon street to Seven oaks, which was inadvertenthturned on to the Redhill route, ari official inquiry has established that the signalman concerned at London bridge G box mistook the train for a Redhill train. The driver was pulled up at Spa road, the next signal box, and, acting under instructions, proceeded to Redhill, and thence to Chislehurst via Tonbridge, the nearest route under the circumstances. “This course was adopted because at this time of the evening a great deal of disorganisation would have been caused to the evening ‘rush’ trains from Cannoq street and London bridge carrying over 60,000 passengers had the train been reverted on to its right route. "The officials who conducted the inquiry are of Ihe opinion that the action taken, once the initial mistake had been made, caused the least inconvenience to the general public, as no other delay was experienced through the incident. Stationmasters along the route were instructed by telephone of the altered route of the tram and of its probable time of arrival at its destination. “The signalman concerned has had a wide experience at this particular spot, and bears an exceedingly good record.”