DUNEDIN CABLE CAR AND TRAILER JUMP THE RAILS

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 January 1947, Page 5

DUNEDIN CABLE CAR AND TRAILER JUMP THE RAILS

PASSENGERS JOLTED; TREATED FOR MINOR INJURIES (P.A.) Dunedin. Jan. 29. When a cable car and trailer from Mornington jumped the rails at the foot of High Street, about 745 a.m. to-day, a number of passengers were thrown on to the road gnd others received a painful jolt. Four of the passengers were taken to the Dunedin Hospital by motor-car, but they wer* not admitted, requiring treatment only as out-patients for cuts, bruises,, abrasions and shock. Cr. J. McCrae, chairman of the Dunedin City Council’s Transport committee, was one of the passenger* in the cable car at the time of the mishap, and received an injury to a leg. It appears that the car, with a trailer attached, was unable to stop when it reached Manse Street comer, where the trailers are usually uncoupled. The car and trailer continued al unslackened speed down towards the end of the lines at the corner of Princes Street, and its momentum caused the car to jump the rails, where they turn into the opposite track, and the trailer crashed into its rear. Strap hanging passengers were thrown on to the roadway, and those seated were sharply jolted out of their seats. Class shattered resoundingly as windows were smashed when tlie trailer crashed into the rear of the suddenly halter car.