RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6037, 20 September 1887, Page 4

RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

[BT TELEQBAIir.]

[JTBOM ■ OTJIi OWN COBKESPOMDEST,]

(Per b.s. Wairarapa, afc tlie Bluff.) INVERCAEGILL, Sept. 10. A serious railway accident lately hap-

pened to a . mixed goods ?.nd passenger train from Sydney to Wagga, which comprised about seventeen loaded trucks. Just before reaching the new iron bridge over the creek between Petersham and Summer Hill, one of the axles of a truck broke, causing the train to oscillate so much that several trucks broke away and fell over an embankment before the bridge was reached. On went the engine and the

other trucks, and when nearly half way over three other trucks broke away and fell over the bridge on to the bank of the creek below the engine, and the remainder of the trucks got over without leaving the

line: There were on the trucks some explosives, and tho wrecked vehicles were soon a mass of blaze., and in a few minutes were totally consumed, with all their contents. There was only one passenger on the train, and he fell with a carriage off the bridge, a distance of fifty feet, but only received a slight shaking. Altogether about eight trucks and their contents, together with a portion o£ the sleepers on the bridge and the telegraph lines were destroyed. A delay in the traffic resulted of over six hours. It is estimated that the damage to the goods is about .£3OOO. About .£2OOO more will cover the damage, to the rolling stock. The. scene presented an appearance of indescribable confusion. Broken timber was piled in burning heaps, and fruit and goods were scattered in all directions down the embankment.