Main Trunk Passengers Have Narrow Escape.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 15, 7 October 1929, Page 5

Main Trunk Passengers Have Narrow Escape.

Engine Strikes Sleeping Car.

TAIIMARANUI, This Day. Passengers in a sleeping' car on the south bound Limited Express had a narrow escape at two o'clock this morning- At the time of lie mishap, the train was stationary at Pokaka, and the north hound Limited struck the sleeping ear which was not quite clear. The car was badly damaged but no ne was injured. One man, it is stated' crawled out of a hole in the side of the carriage. The trains were delayed about two hours. Both trains were stationary prior to the accident and the north bound train was moving out of the station when it struck the sleeper of the other train. PASSENGERS NARROW ESCAPE., TERRIFIC IMPACT. NEAR OHAKUNE.

PALMERSTON N., This Da,. With the rear sleeper and the guard's van trailing over the loopj in the line near the end of the train, the south bound Limited Express was drawn up alongside the platform at Pokaku ten miles from Ohakime at an early hour this morning. The front portion of the last de luxe sleepier in the train was beyond the points but the other section was behind. Apparently flagged on to proceed the north r bound' Limited which had been 'standing at the station moved out, travelling at ten miles an hour on the outside line, when it crashed into the part, of the other Limited express l overhanging the points crossing.

There was a terrific impact as the big engine smashed into the side low down towards the rails below the level of the sleeping berths, ripping and rendering its way along one third the length of the car before it finally came to a stop embedded tn the wreckage of the outer wall. The sleeping car was badly ripped open and practically sheered off in parts, but miraculously enough no passenger in the damaged car injured.

Actually the engine did not penetrate t 0 more than a few inches, as it tore along the carriage, doing considerable damage. People in the bunks were startled!, and some were thrown out violently.