BRICKS CRASH ON TO TRAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 302, 22 December 1945, Page 5

BRICKS CRASH ON TO TRAIN

FIREMAN KILLED EXPRESS NARROWLY ESCAPES DISASTER Recd. 8.10 Sydney. Dec. 21 More than a ton of bricks crashed from a shattered overhead railway bridge as a crowded express from Melbourne thundered thiough Fish Creek, near Gouldbui n, at 50 miles an hour, early this morning. A fireman on the second engine was killed instantly, and disas er was narrowly averted. As the crowded express sped through the _ cutting beneath ihe bridge the wheels were barely inciies from masses of brickwork beside the track. Passengers screamed and • ome women began to-panic when the express was brought to a screeching halt, throwing them from their seats. A few minutes before the express reached the spot a truck hod smashed into the parapet of the bridge which spans a 40 feet deep railway cutting. A 15 feel, section of the bridgework was shat ered, and crashed into the cutting. Some of the brickwork landed los's than six inches froth the rail . Portion of the brickwork was left hanging from the parapet and when the express, which was being drawn by two engines, thundered through tiie cutting the vibration caused the remaining brickwork to fall. A number of bricks struck a stanchion beneath the bridge and richoetted into the driving cabin of the second engine, . triking the fireman above the heart. The driver immediately applied the brakes.

Passengers who crowded round the smashed brickwork were amazed that .he bricks had* not fallen directly on the tiack. The train was delayed 40 minutes while another fireman was obtained.