MISHAP IN GORGE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13161, 20 January 1936, Page 5

MISHAP IN GORGE.

FURIOUS GALE DISPLACES CRAXE.

Taking advantage of the Sunday cessation of train services, railwaymen were working on bridge Xo. 22, some two miles from the Woodville end of the Gorge yesterday morning, and to lay in the replacement girders it was necessary to utilise a portable crane. 'flie crane, which weighs some 35 tons, had been moved up to the point where the rail replacements were being made, and suddenly a violent gust, of wind swept down tlie gorge and set the ponderous machine m motion, the front bogeys going over the gap between the rail extremities, while the rear wheels were shot up at an acute angle from the line. Fortunately no one was injured and the crane was unable to leave the embankment, otherwise much trouble would have followed. The Woodville stationmaster, Mr G. S. Cnrnie, immediately inspected the scene of the mishap, and extra hands were taken out by a relief engine, it being stated by the former that the hold-up would not afreet through rail traffic as the first train was not due along there till 10.30 that night. Nlr Carnie, speaking to a Herald representative, confirmed the statement that the mishap was caused by a gale of unusual violence. All the time the men # were working on the bridge the wind was very strong and was thrashing the waters of the Manawatu with fury, motorists experiencing quite a severe buffeting as they passed through the*

The incident created much interest for the through motorists, some of whom were under the' impression that a train had run over the bridge into the gorge. The unusual situation and the task of recovering such, a, clumsy vehicle from a. bridge that allowed all too little working room to the men required, called for considerable resource on the* part, of the staff, to whom credit is clue for putting such a novel work through with a minimum of delay. XcJ damage was done to th ■ timbers of the bridge, and tlie rails were easily replaced.