A CLOUDBURST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10606, 31 October 1912, Page 4

A CLOUDBURST.

INUNDATION OF EALING. " RAILWAY. LINE WASHED OUT. EXPRESS PASSENGERS MAROONED. BROUGHT TO CHRISTCHURCH BY RELIEF TRAIN. The residents of Ealing and the immediate vicinity had a thrilling experience yesterday afternoon, and one. which they hopo never to encounter again. (Shortly r.ftor three o'clock a heavy mass of inky-looking and heavy raincharged cloud wa& seen approaching from a south-westerly direction. There were loud claps of thunder, vivid flashes of lightning, and as the cloud was passing over the Ealing railway station heavy rain fell in its trail. The cloud travelled at great speed for a short distance in the direction of Carew, when it was apparently met by a contrary wind. It swung round and was brought back directly over Ealing, when it suddenly burst and discharged a deluge of rain, the like of which has never before been experienced in that locality.

Tho rain came down literally in a sheet, and it was quite impossible to see a yard through it. Tho deluge lasted from about half-past three till about a quarter past four o'clock, when it began to caao off. By this time the whole district for a radius of about two miles was a sea. Paddocks were submerged in many places to a depth of from three to fivo feet. • Loose timber and other debris was floating about in all directions. Long lengths of the railway line wero covered, and water was tearing down the Carew and tho Coldstream Roads in raging torrents. All the watercourses for miles were overflowing, and tho change which had been wrought in the appearance of the locality in about an. hour was almost incredible.

"While the havoc on tho level land around Ealing was very great indeed, the destruction can sod in the deep cutting leading down from the Ealing railway station to the railway bridgo across the north branch of the Kanpitata River was even more serious. Heavy masses , of looso shinglo came tearing down the steep embankments, and a long length of tho railway line was covered up to a considerable depth. Tho water finally got under the sleepers and caused several bad washouts, ono being about two chains in length and varying in depth from six. eight,

ten and up to fifteen feet, leaving "the slceners bar© and swinging. The second express from Tim urn, heavily laden with passengers, got as far as Rangitata, three miles south of Ealing, when the passengers learned that a. big slip had occurred and that the line was blocke-d at the cutting. This was about five o'clock, but later on news came that, there was a serious washout as well. Later on still the passengers wero as ncnr as to the scene Vf the disaster. Tlio relief train which loft Asliburton took a gaiis: of men down to assist those who had already been despatched to the scene of the disaster. ~They wijl work all night and all to-morrow, but it is scarcely possible for them to effect the necessary repairs' to allow either of .the early morning trains, or even the afternoon trains, to go through. There were luckily some railway men working near the 'north end of tlio bridge at -the time of the deluge, and someone, whosoever he may be, deserves every credit for speedily teeing what damage had been caused to the line and sending advice to Rangitata to prevent the express passing that station.

"While a deluge fell at Ealing there was only a light rain at Rangitata, and tho cloudburst ended in a small shower at Ashburton. WITH THE RELIEF TRAIN. PHILOSOPHIC PASSENGERS. Shortly after five o'clock a notice was posted at the Ashburton railway station to the effect that tho second express had been delayed, and that it was not expected to reach Ashburton until about an hour after tho usual time. Tho cause of the delay, it was ascertained, was a wash out that had occurred near Ealing. Shortly afterwards the rumour spread that it would be impossible for the train to get through, as the interruption was much more serious than had at first been thought, and inquiries from tho railway officials confirmed tho rumour. However, nothing could be done just then to afford relief, as there was no cngino at Ashburton that could be sent with a relief train. In consequence of this it was necessary to wait for tho arrival of tho 7.45 train from Christchurch, and shortly afterwards it was announced that a train would be at once got together and sent south to bring on tho passengers who had been marooned through tho breakdown of tho line. A few minutes before eight the train left, and fairly good time was made till a short distance south of Hinds, when streams of dirty water on both sides of the line, and sheets of water in some of tho adjoining paddocks, caused tho officers in charge of the train to call a halt in order to ascertain whether the line was safe, and tho train did not proceed until the officers were reassured on this point, just prior to reaching tho Ealing station broad sheets of muddy water of the consistency of. liquid mud afforded unmistakable evidence of tho phenomenal rainfall that had occurred. As the train drew into the station it was quickly boarded by a number of passengers from the belated express, who had walked up the cutting. Without any unncessary delay the engine was attached to what had been the rear of the train, which was then carefully backed down tho cutting. Tho evidences of tho waterspout could bo seen everywhere. Tho sides of the cutting were corrugated as by a. convulsion of Nature. Shingle washed from the steep sides lay in heaps all around, and in the lower ground water of the consistency of pea soup could be seen. As the cutting gradually became deeper occasional belated passengers anxiously watched tho approaching train. Men, women and chiklrcu sat patiently, on tho drippingl ground, in some cases wrapped in rugs, but in other instances without any protection save their usual garments, waiting for the relief train. They had waited there for four or five hours, but thero wore no complaint?, indeed the majority appeared to look upon their day's experiences rather in the light of a picnic than otherwise. It was net long before they were safely seated in the carriages, and their a start was made to gel, aboard the piles of luggage, which had been carried across the break and piled beside the line. This work, thanks to many willing hands, was soon accomplished, and punctually at ten o'clock a start was made for Christchurch. .Once under way, no timo was lost and Christchurch j was reached shortly after midnight. j A PASSENGER'S .IMPRESSIONS. One- of tho passengers by the cxpreps, speaking to a reporter early this morning, said that into what was a good hard ballasted cutting about 40ft high the downpour had cut great holes so large that in some two carriages could havo bpen put, one on top of the other, undoineath the rails. The cloudburst lasted about an hour, and the resulting effect was of such a magni- [ tudo that he would hardly havo be- i lieved it could havo been possible had | he not seen. it.