VERGE OF DISASTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 17

VERGE OF DISASTER.

ENGINE OVER-RUNS LOOP. SUBURBAN TRAIN MISHAP. AUCKLAND, July 29. Well over 100 suburban residents who were picked up at Kumeu and intermediate stations on the Kaipara line, received a severe shaking, but escaped injury at 7.20 o’clock this morning, when the engine of a suburban train, which is due at Auckland at 7.30 o’clock over-ran th© loop at Newmarket, and completely tore away the solid concrete stop at the end of the backshunt. The engine, which is of the big W.S. tank type, was in charge of Driver J. Coughlan and Fireman J. H. Peters, when the crash occurred: but although both men remained at their posts neither was hurt.

The greasy state of the track caused by the rain is believed to be one of the contributory causes of the accident, which fortunately happened at a point which in no way interferes wtih the regular suburban services. The passengers of the train (which consisted of nine carriages)" were delayed for only a few minutes, as a result of the smash, being transferred to another inward-bound suburban train. Subsequently eight of the carriages were pulled on to a side line, one being left to lend weight to the disabled portion of the train, and prevent it from going over an embankment.

The concrete obstruction at the- end of the back shunt was thrown by the impact over a 15ft embankment. The engine, which was being run backwards, came to rest with the rear wheels overlapping the bank at a precarious angle, and the undercarriage, which is badly twisted, being firmly embedded in the ballast. - Three sets of front wheels were suspended in the air, as also were the wheels of the guard’s van, next to the engine. Fortunately, the entire train remained upright. Had it toppled sideways or continued on it is possible that carriages and all would have been precipitated over the embankment with consequent loss of life. The severity of the impact may be gauged from the fact that the cow-catcher of the engine was ripped clean away, and now lies bent and twisted amidst a heap of scoria rock, and the stopping block manv feet below the track. The task o'f replacing the engine on the rails will be an exceedingly difficult one.