WAGONS DERAILED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 116, 20 May 1942, Page 4

WAGONS DERAILED

MISHAP AT ARAMOHO ROAD CROSSING BLOCKED Road and rail traffic was temporarily dislocated at the Somme Parade crossing, Aramoho, yesterday morning when Lhree wagons were' derailed, blocking the roadway. The mishap occurred at about 8.J5 a.m. when a rake of wagons, bound for the East Town Workshops, was being pushed round the triangle and on to the bridge. The leading wagon, a four-wheel wooden truck, became derailed at the crossing switch near the triangle, but with the weight of the following wagons was pusned across the roadway till it crashed into a concrete bank separating the foot.walk from the railroad track. This wagon, Mung on its side by the weight of the impact, lay across the track, and the lollowing vehicle, a four-wheel box car, was forced completely off the rails. It came to rest, canted on its side, against the concrete railings above the tramway subway. The third wagon also left the rails, hut further progress was stopped by the truck lying across the track. At the time of the mishap the locomotive pushing the rake was about, halfway round the triangle and travelling slowly. A shunter riding on one of the leading wagons sprang clear. For a time road traffic was blocked on either side of the derailment, but on the arrival of Inspectors H. E. Tipper and J. H. Minncll, of the City Council traffic department, the use of the tramway subway was permitted. A breakdown crane with a lifting capacity of about eight tons was hastily summoned, but the task of clearing the track was not completed ti'# nearly 10 o’clock. Overhead power and telegraph lines caused certain difficulties and restricted the height to which the crane jib could be lifted. The only train delayed to any extent was the mixed which departed from Marton at 6.25 a.m. with passengers who transferred from the southbound Limited express. The mixed was held at the East Town side of the bridge, but the passengers walked to Aramoho. Those bound for Taranaki connected with the “flyer.” The first wagon lifted back on tc the track was able to run on its wheels, but the leading wagon whicn crashed into the concrete embankment had one bogie shorn off and could not run. After being lifted clear of the bridge it was deposited on one side, well clear of the rails, till later. The box wagon was also removed without difficulty. Warning bells at the crossing and the signalling system were temporarily dislocated, the circuit and wires having been damaged. When the train from Marton was permitted to proceed it was piloted across the bridge.