FIRE ON A TRAIN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 14397, 3 January 1911, Page 2

FIRE ON A TRAIN.

DINING CAR DAMAGED. Per Press Association. ROTORUA, Jan. 1. 'Sorm* excitement was occasioned on the Main Trunk express which left Wellington at 9 p.m. on Friday by the dining car catching tiro. Although at one lime tho position was serious, the outbreak was extinguished without extensive damage. Tho dining car was shunted on,to the express at Kaurimu at breakfast- time on Saturday, when it was noticed that tho heat of the chimui y was causing a slight smouldering inside the lining of the ceiling. The motion of tho train creating a draught, increased fho smouldering. Tho fire was* attacked by the dining car staff, and it was-believed it had been put out.

The occupants of the train know nothing till about 10.10 a.m. on Saturday, when tho express pulled up at Poro-o-tarao. Tho f jre was then again burning somewhere inside tho coiling. Tho engine pulled the-diner under a railway tank, and after a man with an axo had hacked a hold on tho top of the car, tho water from the tank was poured into the aperture. A crowd of passengers watched, the operations, and camera shutters clicked on all sides. One of the train staff happened to pass behind the car when the tank arm was pushed away after the, firo was extinguished, and ho received a ducking. The passengers were much amused until they found out that no dinner could be served as‘a result of the fire. Tf the..out break had not been checked early there was a chance of a serious explosion, owing to the proximity _of the cas reservoir. The car. No. Ad 77, has been on firo on a previous occasion. A flaw in the asbestos packing around tbc top of the chimney was said to be tho cause of Saturday’s outbreak.