TRAINS COLLIDE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1929, Page 11

TRAINS COLLIDE

CAR ON LIMITED WRECKED SLEEPERS RUDELY WAKENED EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPES ACCIDENT ON MAIN TRUNK By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmerston North, Oct. 7. There was a terrific impact and the big engine smashed into the side of the car low down towards the rails and below the level of the sleeping-berths, ripping and; rending its way along a third the length of the car before it came to a stop embedded in the wreckage. It was the, .north-bound express crashing into . the • south-bound limited on the main trunk line last night. The only casualty was a man whose head was injured. The south-bound, express was drawn up alongside the platform at Pokaka, ten miles from Ohakune, at an early hour with morning, with the rear sleeper and guard’s-, van tailing over the loop in the line. The front portion of the last de luxe sleeper in the train was beyond the points, but the other section was behind. Apparently being flagged to proceed, the north-bound limited, which had been standing, at, the station, moved out at ten miles an hour on the outside line. It crashed into the part of the other limited express overhanging the point crossing. ■ i The outer wall of the sleeping car was ripped open.: and practically. sheered ofl in parts, but miraculously enough no passenger in the damaged car was ■ injured.. Actually the engine did not penetrate 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. One man’s head was injured. The force of the smash canted the sleeper over to an angle of 45 degrees, where it balanced precariously, being held evidently only by the twisted couplings. That it escaped complete demolition is remarkable. All the wheels on one side were three feet in the air. Those of the other side remained on the rail. . The guard’s van was sufficiently clear of the points to escape damage, but its wheels were forced off the rails on one side. The sleeping car was struck on the side opposite the corridor, and the point of impact w’ould be nearest the sleepers’ feet. Included in the passengers in the carriage were several ladies, two children, Malor Isitt and Wing-Commander Wallingford, the latter being newly appointed to a position in the New Zealand Air Force. When the impact occurred the sleeper was plunged into darkness and confusion, but there was no panic. After realising the damage and nature of the .the . passengers in the car hastily dressed and clambered over the sharply tilted platform of the car to the ground. Most of the passengers m the other part of the train were unaware of the mishap. The morning was very cold with a thick frost, and there was a spectacular scene with the glare of the oil flares. Difficulty was experienced in extracting the engine from the wrecked car. The damaged sleeper was shoved - up with timber jacks, and meanwhile another engine was attached to the rear end of the north express, and the engine m front was drawn from the smashed carriage. The engine which hit ■ the carriage was slightly damaged. The guard's van next to the sleepei was shunted off, and the sleeper was left behind. The trains then resumed following a lengthy delay. . The north-bound limited arrived at Auckland at 12.27 p.m. Passengers say the shock of the collision was light, on their train.