SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR TIMARU.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3436, 16 April 1879, Page 3

SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR TIMARU.

j Aseriouß accidenthappened yeßtordaymornI ing to the night goods train from Oamaru to ' Chriatchuroh. When the train, which conaiated of 41 loaded waggons reached the cutting beyond Saltwater Creek, about two miles south of the Timaru station, the axle of one of the trucks broke, and the sudden jerk uncoupled the, truok from the one behind it. The locomotive went on with aeven trucks, and the broken axle kept striking the sleeperß and tore up the permanent way for a distance of over five hundred yarda, till tlje driver, observing something was the matter, stopped the train. Ifc was jußt aboufc 5 o'clook, and dark. On going back to look ftt the remainder of the train, it was found to he a complete wreck. Thirteen truokß, oon- , taining timbor and grain, were smashed to \ pieces and huddled on top of oach othor. The tauard fortunately escaped withaaevere ahaking, Is fche van and laafc 20 trucks had not gone off the lino. Tho smash is tho worst that has looourrod on the New Zealand railwava. Large ((gangs of mon were employed all day clearting the line, and traffic wont on as usual, the trains meeting each other at the scene of aooident. Mr Jonea, the distriot Btation paster, made capital arrangements, and hirod exprees waggons fco carry luggago and lady paaaengors from train to train. Had the accident nofc happened in a'deep cutting, the Whole train must have come to grief. The dSbris waß cleared off the lino in tho evening, in timo for tho Soufch train to pass on to Timaru. Tlio railway officials deßervo credit for the alacrity whioh thoy displayed in tho work. * __