EXPRESS TO TARANAKI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 123, 28 May 1941, Page 4

EXPRESS TO TARANAKI

TWO DELAYS EXPERIENCED SPLIT ON STEEP GRADES The Wellington-Ne w Plymouth express was 42 minutes late arriving at Aramoho yesterday afternoon, ana 98 minutes late into New Plymouth last night, due to the tram failing to negotiate two steep gradients. The express consisted of seven cars and a van leaving Marton, and was hauled by a * Ka ’ locomotive. The first delay occurred when it was climbing the Wangaehu bank,” where tne grade is 1 in 3a. Steady rain was falling and the rails were greasy, causing tne driving wheels of the locomotive to slip. The express had to be split in two before the grade could be negotiated, the engine going on to Baker's Cros ing with one half of the train, and returning later for the second half. Two cars with passengers for Wanganui were taken off at Aramoho, ana when the express resumed its .iourney to Taranaki it was hauled by an “Ab” class engine. The Westmere “bank.” however, longest sustained grade on the section, was also affected by the rain, the rails being very slippery. Similar trouble to that experienced on the Wangaehu hill was encounter d. Though approaching the summit, the eng.ne was unable to negotiate the bank with a fuil load, and the express had to be split while one half was taken on to Westmere. Further delay occurred to the express, and the New Plymouth-Wan-ganui “flyer,” due to reach its destination shortly after 6 p.m., was delayed in crossing the mail. Yesterday’s occurrence was extremely rare. Freight and mixed train-* sometimes have to be split in two on steep gradients, but expresses are seldom affected in this way.