RAILWAY COLlISION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13241, 22 March 1907, Page 5

RAILWAY COLIISION.

OFF HIE LINE AX OAMAUU. (iUARirS VAX TELESCOPIiD. I lie nimniiig ti/ain from. 'l'iinaru to Oamartt■.yesterday, met with aii accideiit at. the Oamaru station yard. By .noi|K( unat'couiilabk l means, as. tlie truili waii ■ getting into the station, tiie engine jumjied (he points just, at llie«. noilhern end' of" the station and ran , into ; it train- >vhivii was at rest on the shunting line—the nearest one and parallel to the plntfoiifi lif|6. The standing train had nome friiip Ngapara iliat morning, and the van end niet. with the collision: lenother being attached, and most of lliem liidon. The guard's van had on board a. rather valuable'.load of.faiin produce and sundries—eggs, bacon, etc. This van was completely telescoped and the unto < ikliei of the engine went right underneath and almost met the,waggon next tlie van.' .Ilje sudden impact jolted (ill -imt two , clean frdiA : the connections, and; sent the rest of the tram about; 50 yards down the line,, one of the trublcs being: derailed before running away and sliding al'mg the' gravel. ' , ' The engine driver applied his brake* as n iis lie observed he 'v'lifi on tlVo' W'NWJR line, but as the cnginif had only a, chain or- si? to go before meeling the the stationary train, there was tm possible chance of avoiding a smash. The brakes worked admirably, and seeing! that- the train had ordinarily over a hundred yards to go before" pulling up. it was surprising that more damage was noli done, The engine was not damaged very liiuoh, the lamp box' and ge:ir suffering a good deal from the roof of the v.an, ami tlip Westinjyliouse brake a])pliancos were severed,- ata junction ot the press lire tijltp. It is a curious fact that- when the tube wa« limken from -collision, the (raid came 1° a very shaip stoppage. This was, due to Hit; full pressure coming on ,1 he wWis mmrie'fitnrilv.. -No .oiio'ivas -lnirt and'the wrecklMje' v, is cleared away within an hour or so by a nreaKiiowiv gsiiig.,- ,