ESCAPE OF A TRAIN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16579, 7 November 1924, Page 10

ESCAPE OF A TRAIN.

BLENHEIM ACCIDENT.

FALL INTO TORRENT AVERTED. BLENHEIM, Monday. Details of the accident to the Blcn-heim-Ward train show that though the mishap was fortunately unattended by even minor casualties, it was probably one of the most sensational in the history of the New Zealand railways. The bridge which was the scene of the accident, is about. 60ft long, and crosses a creek at a-' height- of about 14ft,. The creek was in, high flood at the time and had undermined one of the central tiers on which the -bridge rests. ' There was nothing to indicate that the bridge- was unsafe, but immediately it felt the weight of the 4-5-ton locomotive the whole superstructure buckled and the front wheels of the engine left the rails. It is nothing short of marvellous that the whole train, did not plunge into the boiling torrent below, but the engine mira-culotwly continued its? journey, the front wheels apparently travelling across the sleepers while the back 1 wheels bung to the rails.

In this manner the engine humped its way to the comparative safety of the solid ground beyond the bridge before finally leaping at right angles; from the twisted track and plunging headlong down a- 9ft bank. There it now lies with its cowcatcher arid front* buried deeply in the earth.

As the' locomotive took its leap at right angles to the track the heavy couplings fastening it lo the train fortunately snapped like a carrot and the derailed cars were left standing upright on (tie track instead of being dragged down the bank at the tail of the engine. This fact, undoubtedly accounts for there being no casualties among tlie few passengers that the train contained. The engine-driver, Mr. A. S. Clinch, and 1 the fireman, Mr. G. L. Y. Worthington, stuck to their engine throughout the mishap, and did everything possible to avert trouble, shutting off steam and

applying the emergency brakes when the bridge gave way. They were still in tlie cab when the engine dived down the. hank, and had the good fortune to escape without a- scratch.

The guard, Mr. France, said the jar felt at the back of the train a'fe the engine left L'h-e- rails was not very severe, and the passengers were hardly aware that anything serious had 1 occurred until the train came to a standstill with the danger passed. It is anticipated that there will he considerable difficulty in getting the locomotive on the track again, and it may have to be dismantled.