ORDEAL IN TRAIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19107, 31 August 1936, Page 8

ORDEAL IN TRAIN

PASSENGER’S STORY EXPRESS OFF, THE LINE UPSETTING OF CARRIAGE

PRAISE FOR, ENGINE CREW

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day

In. an' interview concerning the d'eraih’nchf of the Aiieklarid-VVelUngton Main Trunk express on the Wellington sido, of Paraparaumu, at about. 6.25 o’clock yesterday morning, Mr. A.. 11. Wallace,’ of Christchurch, a. comrnerotal traveller, who was in the first carriage, said lie. considered the nature of the accident, saved them from more serious consequences. The engine driver tokl him that a slip came down oil the side of the locomotive, forcing it off the. line, so that the carriages were able to move forward until stopped by the piled-up earth. “1 was dozing in my seat when the brakes were put, on .hard,” said MrWallace. “Before I had time to realise what had happened' the carriage started to jolt and. rock about. Then the side of the carriage against which I was sitting went up into the a'if arid right over ‘t he top of us. My overcoat was hanging, on a hook beside, me, and 1 found it on the other side of the line. A suitcase winch was on the rack also was thrown over there.” Mr. Wallace received a cut. on an evebrow and had both shins grazed. He joined with the other passengers in commending the prompt action, of the driver and fireman. The condition of Air. A. F. Bush, one of the. injured passengers, was reported to-day to he still Serious, The other two in. the hospital, MoSsrs. V. Viloy and C’. J. Rogers, are reported to 'fie .making satisfactory progress. The Napier express to-day is using the Wairarapa line, but, all other trains normally running on. the Main Trunk will tranship passengers by railway bus across, the damaged stretch. Workmen are milking good progress in clearing the slip, but at.noon to-day, the department was unable to say definitely when the line would be in full- use. After the line is cleared a. spur line probably will lie constructed to carry the capsized locomotive hack to the main track. ...