TRAIN DERAILED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27041, 28 March 1949, Page 4

TRAIN DERAILED

CHATTO CREEK SIDING ENGINE AND GOODS WAGONS INVOLVED A goods train bound for Cromwell was derailed at Chatto Creek siding, between Omakau and Alexandra, at 11.40 on Saturday morning. Although the engine and two wagons left the rails, no one was injured and little damage was caused. New sleepers were being laid at the point where the mishap occurred. The engine left the line and ploughed through gravel for a short distance. The first wagon piled up against it. The next truck also left the rails. The following trucks, which were packed with sheep, stayed on the rails and the stock did not sufter. The driver of the train was not injured, but was severely shaken by the experience. . _ Employees of the Railways Department worked in almost blizzard conditions on Saturday trying to get the rolling stock back on the rails. A breakdown train from Dunedin arrived at Chatto Creek at about 7 o’clock yesterday morning, and the derailed engine and wagons were placed back on the line. , . The breakdown train returned to Dunedin last night. A relief engine took the goods train to Cromwell yesterday. , The district traffic manager at Dunedin, Mr S. G. Howie, told the Daily Times yesterday that an inquiry would be held into the cause of the derailment.