OBSTRUCTIONS ON LINE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1931, Page 7

OBSTRUCTIONS ON LINE

ATTEMPT TO DERAIL TRAIN.

DISCOVERIES AT TE AWAMUTU.

Hamilton, June 8.

A close watch is being kept on the Main Trunk line in the vicinity of Te Mawhai, three miles south of Te Awamutu, as it is believed that two deliberate attempts to derail trains have been made in that locality in the past three days. Late on Saturday night a coil of copper wire on the rails was struck by a mixed train running from Te Kuiti to Frankton Junction. The driver of the train, which left Te Mawhai at about midnight, noticed the obstacle on the track, but was not able to pull up before the engine had passed over it. No damage was done to the engine, which was not derailed, and the train was able to proceed after a brief delay. It is considered fortunate that the incident was not attended with serious consequences, as the train would possibly have been derailed had it been going fast. The next train due to pass over the line was the Wellington-Auckland express, which arrives in Te Awamutu shortly before 3.30 a.m.

It was reported that a sleeper was placed across the line in the same locality on Friday evening about the same time.