TRAINS COLLIDE.

Southland Times, Issue 20002, 16 October 1926, Page 7

TRAINS COLLIDE.

Startling Smash at Allanton.

NO ONE HURT.

Wagons and Carriage Telescoped.

One of the most startling and incomprehensible smashes in the history of the New Zealand Railways occurred last night at Allanton, a little township on the main trunk line between Invercargill and Dunedin. Two goods trains collided with the result that a large number of wagons were telescoped and a tangled mass of wreckage piled on the track.

ENGINE PLOUGHS THROUGH WAGONS.

THEN MOUNTS PILE OF DEBRIS. CREW SHAKEN BUT UNHURT. CAUSE OF DISASTER UNKNOWN. BOTH TRAINS RUNNING LATE. From somewhat vague and conflicting accounts of the accident received late last evening it appears that the collision took place at 8.30 p.m. between the 11.25 a.m. goods express, bound from Invercargill to Christchurch, and a slow goods train on its way from Milton to Dunedin. Both, trains were considerably behind schedule time, the heavily loaded express having been delayed for several hours on her way northward at wayside statiops. Consequently the express, which is always given the right of way over other trains, did not pass the goods at the usual siding further down the line. The slow train proceeded on to Allanton, ' hich lies just south of Mqsgiel, where it was intended to shufltt her onto a siding to allow the express to get past without delay. Unfortunately there was a fatal miscalculation by someone, T "’ie goods train had just come to a dead stop in front of the station when in full view' of the horrified watchers on the platform the express was seen bearing down suddenly at a fast speed. Brakes were useless, and the inevitable smash took place, the engine ploughing through about a dozen wagons until it was mounted on top of a pile of riven steel and matchwood. The train crew climbed down through a cloud of steam from the smashed cylinders terribly shaken but uninjured. By a miracle neither train left the rails, though portions of the smashed trucks were scattered along the permanent way. An early report from near the scene of the accident, stated that even in Allanton the extent of the damage was not known. Hie wagons had been smashed into scarcely recognisable debris and it was difficult to estimate the exact number. Work was considerably hampered by the darkness in v hich the accident occurred and which probably prevented the driver of the express from seeing the obstruction until too late. The escape of the crews of both trains from even slight injury is remarkable. The guard’s van at the rear of the goods was empty at the time of the impact. Had anyone been inside he could not possibly have escaped alive. The consequences in the event of the first train carrying passengers would have been frightful. Allanton township has about 200 inhabitants and is situated 15 miles by rail from Dunedin on the Taieri Plain. The railway staff consists of a station-master and two

1 other officials. The station is situated just behind a bend in the line and is at the foot of a slight incline, coming down which the express goods probably gained added speed. Allanton is not a regular stopping place for either goods or passenger expresses. From information received locally the cause of the smash was difficult to determine. It was first thought that the goods had been shunted onto a siding and that the points had not been turned. Had this been the case the accident might easily have been much more serious than it was, for it is considered that the express, after negotiating the twist in the rails, might have been piled up also. A late hour message from Dunedin, however, stated that the cause was probably failure to change the signals, which were apparently switched back to “green” after the goods entered the station. The driver of the oncoming express would then conclude that the way was clear and would proceed. Had the signals been properly set he should have pulled up outside the station and waited until the goods was safely sidetracked, when he would be given the signal to “go ahead.” It was stated last night that when the track would be cleared again was somewhat problematical, rs the extent of the damage had not then been estimated. A breakdown gang left Dunedin shortly after the accident was reported and it is hoped that they would have the way clear by some time to-day. Passengers from Invercargill by the early express this morning may possibly have to change trains at the scene of the smash. ACCOUNT FROM DUNEDIN. FIFTEEN WAGONS SMASHED, Dunedin, October 15. A serious railway collision at Allanton to-night resulted in heavy damage to rolling stock, about 15 wagons being smashed. The through goods train from Invercargill crashed into a stationary goods train in the yard. There was no one in the van of the stationary train and no injury was done to anyone. The line was littered with debris but *a break-down gang left town and should have the line clear by this morning. It is understood that the cause of the mishap v as the failure of the signalman to put the signal back on the arrival of the first train. A LATER REPORT. “NOT SO SERIOUS.” In regard to the Allanton railway smash reports the damage was not as serious as at first reported. About six wagons in all were derailed and one carriage was partially telescoped.