THREE TRAINS IN SMASH

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1930, Page 11

THREE TRAINS IN SMASH

WRECKAGE BLOCKS THE LINE TE KAUWHATA STATION CRASH. ENGINE CREW JUMg FOR LIVES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Nov. 19. Three goods trains were involved in _a smash at Te Kauwhata railway station, 54 miles south of Auckland, shortly before daybreak. For more than ri: hours the main fine was blocked by the wreckage of trucks and guards’ vans. One train, on reaching Te Kauwhata from Auckland, found a second train from Frankton' on the station loop, where it was shunting. The train from Auckland waited on the main line at the station for about 20 minutes for the line to clear, but at about 3.25 a.m. a third train, also from Frankton,-appeared, turned on to the loop and crashed into the van of the second train. The van collapsed and the broken framework was driven into the waggons in front, wrecking, them and piling the wreckage against the engine alongside. The engine of the first train on the main line was standing approximately opposite the van of the second train, which was on the loop. The driver and fireman of the first train, seeing that a smash was inevitable when the first train appeared, leaped from their engine and dashed for safety with only seconds to spare. The three trains were officially known as No. 81 from Auckland, No. 232 from Frankton, and No. 244, the fast through goods from Wellington to Auckland. No. 81 was on the main line, No. 244 crashed into No. 232 and the wreckage piled up against' the engine .of No. 81. The engines of No. 81 and No. 244 had headlights. The wrecked roof of the guard’s van of No. 232 was thrown on to the funnel of No. 81. In consequence of the wreckage on the line the first express reached Auckland three hours late. The Limited was two hours late.