GOODS TRAIN DERAILED

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1934, Page 7

GOODS TRAIN DERAILED

TEN TRUCKS LEAVE LINE MISHAP NEAR ARTHUR’S PASS. FOUR MEN IN VAN ESCAPE INJURY. TRUCKS FALL OVER EMBANKMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Ten trucks in a goods train carrying coal and timber between Arthur’s Pass and Springfield were derailed this afternoon near the Avoca station. About two chains of the permanent way was torn up by. the trucks, and the express train whidi was following was delayed three and a-quarter hours. The inter-island steamer was- held back waiting for 14 passengers for the North Island. The'cause of the mishap is not known yet, but it is thought, to have been due to one of the axles of the trucks breaking. Gangs are working to-night to clear the line. The accident occurred on a slight down grade just before the train ran into the Avoca station. The line is slightly, banked and six of the trucks fell over the embankment to the left and two to the right. These were badly smashed and the salvaging of them will present some difficulty for the crew of a breakdown train which left Christchurch this evening with a full repair outfit and a crane. All . the freight on the trucks was strewn over the track. Four men were in the guard’s van of the goods train. They were badly shaken but otherwise unhurt. It is expected the track will be cleared and fully repaired by to-mor-row.