RUNAWAY TRUCKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3112, 5 November 1913, Page 7

RUNAWAY TRUCKS.

AN EXCITING INCIDENT. . AUCKLAND, October 28. The failure of the hook coupling released a train of 19 ballast wagons ami a brake van on the branch lino serving the Railway Department’s scoria pit at Mount Albert this afternoon, and loaded wagons dashed down the line and into a dead-end siding just above the Mount Albert station. Seven of the wagons were damaged beyond repair, and the main line wa« blocked for about half an hour. There is a steep rise from the siding to the quarry, the grade being one in 30. At the foot of the incline the lino crosses the main road and then curves round Into the siding, which is parallel and close to the main Kaipara lino. From the top *,.f the gradient the lino descends into the p.t, and the accident occurred just as the tram of wagons was being pushed over the rise. Apparently the engine was coupled to the last of the wagons by a liook coupling only, the side chain couplings not being connected, and as the big loan topped the rise the coupling opened and the train broke away down the hill. Several hopper wagons were included in the train, and these had only hand brakes on, but the other trucks had Wcstiiiighouae brakes. The guard endeavoured from his station in the van at the head of the racing train to arrest it by means of the brakes, but, finding that it was beyond control, lie jumped out of the van and alighted alongside the track without injury. Seven tons of scoria wore contained in the wagons, and the train dashed into the siding at a tremendous speed. It was brought to a sudden stop by the buffer at the end of the track. The brake van was turned completely over and seven of the trucks were smashed, while the couplings and springs on " the others were broken. One or two of the derailed wagons fouled the main line, but the wreckage was soon cleared away, and as the track had not been damaged at all there was no serious interference with the traffic. The engine followed the runaway d-wn the incline, but, being under full control, was not damaged in any degree.