WRECK OF MIXED TRAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1931, Page 6

WRECK OF MIXED TRAIN

DERAILMENT ON MAIN TRUNK SEVERAL WAGGONS PULVERISED. PASSENGERS ESCAPE INJURY. ; BLOCKAGE OF MAIN RAILWAY’/ By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night, ■ Seven insulated vans loaded with butter and frozen mutton were wrecked aitd the permanent way was blocked over & distance of about 50 yards through the partial derailment to-night of a mixed train bound from Frankton- to Auckland. The derailment occurred about half a mile south of the flag station at Karaka, which is 23 miles south, of Auckland. i ■ The train left Paerata, 25 miles from Auckland, at 7.16 p.m. and the accident occurred a few minutes later as it was entering a cutting. The train consisted of 27 goods vans, two passenger care and a guard’s van. It was the 21st van from the engine that caused the derailment. It parted completely from the train and catapulted over 20 feet to the left aiid -burst asunder.- It was loaded with frozen mutton which was scattered’ in all directions, while the woodwork became a tangled - mass. The next van also, separated com-’' pletely from those following and cams to rest between the remains of the first van and the line. The rest of the five vans and part of the first passenger car ran past these two. Three of the vans telescoped and the wreckage spread to the right and left, forming a confused mass about 16 feet deep and about the same width right across the permanent way. The next two vans toppled over to the right and pulled the first passenger car and the forepart of ths second passenger car off the rails with them. There were three passengers in the first car and three in the second, all being men. They escaped with shakings, as also did the guard, who wte looking out of the door of the guard’s van.. A motor jigger which was right at the rear of his van shot the full length of the van to the front wall behind him. He commented afterward that he thought at first there was an earthquake shock. There was a thunderous noise, three sharp jolts, and then the train stopped. 1 In the front passenger carriage a porcelain water filter crashed to the floor and was smashed, but this appeared to be the only damage in either of the cars or in the guard’s van. The passengers received a severe jolting but none was hurt. Within a short time surfacemen from Drury, Karaka and Paerata . had arrived on the scene and made a start on clearing away the wreckage. A<lvice was also received that a . steam crane and other breakdown plant, together with further men, were being despatched from Penrose. Along the length of the derailment sleepers were smashed and the < rails spread. It will obviously occupy at least well into to-morrow before trains can pass through again. Both expresses were held up. Limited passengers will get through but no others.