EXCURSION HELD UP

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1934, Page 9

EXCURSION HELD UP

ENGINE STRIKES HORSES

DERAILMENT OF FRONT BOGEY.

SECOND TRAIN WARNED IN TIME.

INSPECTOR'S NARROW ESCAPE.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Nov. 26.

Two excursions trains for the West Coast were delayed in the early hours of yesterday morning owing to the derailment of the engine of the first train, which ran into some horses near Annat. There was a thick fog. The guard raced back half a mile and placed detonators on the line to warn the second train. It was discovered that the front bogey of the engine had been derailed, but the track was only slightly damaged. The train crew were assisted by passengers in replacing the engine on the line. A feature of the accident was the narrow escape of Mr. A. W. Morris, inspector of the permanent way. When word of the mishap was received at Springfield Mr. Morris left on an electric jigger, followed by Mr. R. Clark on a similar machine. Suddenly Mr. Morris was confronted with the light of the engine, which had got under way more quickly than was expected. The fog had made visibility bad. Mr. Morris had time only to fling himself clear before the jigger was reduced to matchwood. Mr. Clark had time to get his machine off the line. The train, already an hour and 20 minutes late, left without further delay and made up some lost time before it reached Greymouth.