CLEARING THE WRECKAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 265, 8 November 1937, Page 6

CLEARING THE WRECKAGE

AUCKLAND TRAIN SMASH [ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, Nov. 5. Working throughout the night and this morning gangs of men using a massive crane and other special equipment succeeded in clearing the lines following the head-on collision between two trains near the Parnell overbridge on Thursday night. One line was available for use in time to permit suburban trains to pass with city-bound workers, but it was not until several hours later that both lines were free of the wreckage and the normal schedules were being maintained. A preliminary inquiry into the cause of the collision, which occurred when a shunt train became out of control on the down-grade and crashed into a mixed passenger and goods train that had just left Auckland station for Swanson, was held. There will be a full inquiry later. The two shunters on the inwardbound train who were admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Thursday night were stated to-day to be in a fairly serious condition. They are H. Macky, aged 35, married, of Newton, who suffered injuries to groin and hip, and F. E. H. Ongley, aged 41, married, of Point Chevalier, who had concussion and a severe cut under the right eye. So firmly were the two locomotive! locked together that they had to be cut apart with an oxy-acetylene torch before they could be moved. One of the cylinders of the inward-bound locomotive was cut off and the two parts were towed to the Otahuhu shops. The smaller one had to bo lifted by means of the crane before the wrecked front bogey could be cleared away. It was then taken to the running sheds.