Railway Smash at Mahia

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 151, 16 September 1927, Page 1

Railway Smash at Mahia

ASSENGERS’ NARROW ESCAPE

Derailed Van Dragged Half-a-Mile

A DERAILED van, dragged unnoticed for about half .a mile, was the cause of a railway smash, at Mahia, just south of Manurewa, shortly after seven o’clock last evening when, on entering the station, the tail end of the 5 p.m. mixed passenger and goods train from Mercer swung into the platform and effected the derailment of four other vans. The passenger section of the train was undamaged. *

“A" SUDDEN bump. a. ripping crash — and then we stopped.”

Thus a passenger on the train descrh.it the accident. Conjuring up visions of a serious smash, he lost no time in scrambling out on to the platform. Fortunately the scene that met his eyes was nut that of a big; railway disaster, but it was bad enough. Platform Torn Up

The passenger carriages had not left the line, but the van immediately in front of the first carriage had mounted the platform, shearing off the top of the concrete wall with the ease of a tractor plough in soft loam. The three vans In front had been hurled in the opposite direction into a hollow at the side of the track, while about 100 yards further up the line was another derailed van where it had been dragged before the engine was pulled up. The passengers certainly had cause to congratulate themselves on escaping unhurt. Fortunately the train was travelling siowly at the time. It was a heavy train, consisting of 30 goods vans and trucks, three passenger carriages and a guard’s van, and for some distance approaching the station there is a perceptible np-grade. From the disposition of the vans after the accident it was not difficult to visualise the result had it occurred to a fast passenger train or the Limited.

As a railway station, Mahia would bow have ceased to exist. It would have been wiped off the map. The cause of the mishap was fairly apparent. About half a mile south of Mahia marks on the track indicate where a van had left the line. The sleepers are covered with scoria metal, and the track of the van is easily ▼isible.

One theory expressed was that the jran went eff the line on the rightoani side, this enabling it to clear

the platform at Mahia, which is on the opposite side. Over Takanini Stream It was the van immediately in front of the passenger carriages that struck the platform at a spot about 20 yards up, the other derailed vans ahead leaving the track on the opposite side.

About two hundred yards before reaching the station the line crosses the Takanini Stream. Over this culvert the train, with its derailed van bumping along the track, had just passed.

Although only a small stream, the drop of 22 feet from the culvert would have been sufficient to have entailed serious consequences had the van gone completely off the track at that point. The relief train reached the scene at 9 o’clock. The passengers were immediately transhipped and the work of clearing the line was at once commenced. Under the supervision of Mr. J. F. Mackley, locomotive engineer, this was effected with commendable promptitude. Prompt Repairs

Jacks and cranes quickly effected a clearance, and shortly after three o’clock this morning the second express, which was due to leave Auckland a: 7.45 last evening, passed through Mahia. Tlie half-mile or so of track over which the derailed van had passed also required attention before the two Wellington expresses were allowed to pass through. With the exception of the damaged vans, which have been dragged to the side of the line, the track is now in order. Business was being carried on as usual at Mahia station this morning, although the presence of several sightseers gave the little country station a much busier appearance than usual. Prompt measures were taken by the Kailway Department to cope with the suburban traffic. A motor-car service was organised and passengers for Papakura were conveyed by car from Manurewa. The only north bound train affected was the express from Frankton, which usually arrives in AuckUmd shortly after 11 o’clock. Passengers were conveyed by car from Papakura to a train at Manurewa, which arrived at Auckland shortly after one o’clock this morning.

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Passengers’ Long Wait Passengers by the second express had a long wait at the Auckland Railway Station last evening The train is due to leave Auckland at 7.45 o’clock but she did not leave until 3.7 o’clock this morning. Passengers made themselves as comfortable as possible, but. some whose homes are in Auckland decided to postpone their trips until this evening. The first express from Wellington this morning was only’ a few minutes late, due to crossings, and the Limited arrived almost on time.