TRUCKS DERAILED

Southland Times, Issue 21428, 24 June 1931, Page 4

TRUCKS DERAILED

MISHAP AT McNAB. TRAINS DELAYED, -| Five trucks and a van forming part of a goods train which left Gore at 6.30 a.m. yesterday for Waikaka were derailed at McNab, delaying the express for Christchurch for an hour and the mixed train for Invercargill for approximately two and a-half hours. Fortunately the truck’s were empties which were to have been loaded with stock and other goods at Waikaka for transport to other centres. The framework of two of the trucks was damaged, but the others were intact. From the information available yesterday it appears that owing to the points being wrongly set at the McNab siding the Waikaka train passed on to the main line. The engine-driver, finding that he was on the wrong line, backed the train, but in doing so the points gave way, with the result that the trucks divided, some going on to one line and the remainder on to the other. The strain of the trucks pulling away from each other caused several to be derailed, while the line itself was bent in several places. Immediately after the derailment Invercargill was communicated with and a breakdown train was despatched. In the meantime a relief gang succeeded in getting all but two of the trucks on to the line, while the remaining two were pushed aside to make a clearance for the express. The line was also temporarily repaired and after an hour’s delay the express was able to continue its journey. The slow train, which is timed to leave Gore for Invercargill at 7.30 a.m., was able to get through a short while later, but did not depart from Gore until 10 a.m. Subsequently another goods train was despatched to Waikaka. The breakdown gang succeeded in righting the two remaining trucks and by noon the line was once more clear for traffic.