Tramway Derailment At Points Due To Electrical Fault

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 June 1948, Page 4

Tramway Derailment At Points Due To Electrical Fault

Because of an electrical fault splitting tlie automatic points at the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Guyton Street shortly after noon yesterday, the rear bogies of a Gonvillebound tram were derailed. The mishap occurred at an awkward hour, when the Tramways Department was handling peak lunch-hour traffic-, but within half an hour the aram was back on the rails and normal running was resumed.

The tram departed from the city at 12.2 p.m. for Gonville, via Korotniko Road. When negotiating the junction between Victoria Avenue and Guyton Street, the leading bogies made a normal turn, but before the rear bogies reached the points the latter were split by an electrical fault, with the result that the rear of tlie tram swung in the direction of St. John's and was derailed.

A call was sent out for the breakdown crew, and in spite of the men being at lunch the motor truck used for emergencies of this nature was quickly on the scene. The tram was re-railed with the aid of jacks, ramps and other equipment. It was undamaged and was back on the rails at 12.35 p.m., resuming its interrupted journey to Gonville. While the tram was being re-rail-ed. however, inward-bound cars from Gonville and Castlecliff ran as far as Guyton Street only.