MAIN TRUNK SLIPS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19658, 19 August 1935, Page 6

MAIN TRUNK SLIPS

EXPRESSES DELAYED. LINE COMPLETELY BLOCKED. TARANAKI LINE IN USE. WORKMEN’S HARD TASK. Further slips on the Main Trunk railway during the week-end seriously interfered with traffic on Saturday night and yesterday. The main fall occurred at Ngaurukehu, 12 miles north of Taihape, shortly before 6 pm. on Saturday, completely blocking the line. In the case of the Main Trunk expresses which left Wellington and Auckland at 3 p.m. on Saturday, transshipment of passengers and luggage was carried out at the Ngauru.kehu station, tho trains being delayed for nearly eight hours.

The limited expresses which left Auckland and Wellington at 7 o’clock last night were diverted over the Taranaki route, and consequently were delayed for some hours. The Aucklandbound limited did not pass through Frankton until noon to-day. The workmen made good progress with clearing the debris at NgauruIcehu, and at noon yesterday had cleared the line sufficiently to allow trains being taken past with the greatest care. Unfortunately another slip came down at the same place, and completely blocked the line again. Further complications occurred last evening when another serious slip occurred between Turangarcre and Hihitfthi, about four miles further north. The gangs are now faced with a difficult task in clearing the line at two main centres, and it is not yet possible lo stale how long the work will take. In the meanwhile the Taranaki line is being used for all- through traffic. TIRED AND HUNGRY. . PASSENGERS’ EXPERIENCES. FIVE HOURS LATE AT FRANKTON. Cheery but tired and hungry, the passengers on the north-bound limited express, which arrived at Frankton Junction at noon to-day—five hours late—were grateful for an opportunity Lo get out of the carriages and stretch their legs. The -delay was occasioned -chiefly through the deviation of the express through the Taranaki line although, according to one passenger, the train made very slow headway up some of the grades on account of the enginewheels slipping on the rails.

The weather In the Waikato, he said, appeared lo be sultry and balmy compared with conditions further south. Snow and driving sleet heat heavily against the carriage windows for many miles of the journey. “We did qot get any breakfast until we reached To Kuiti at 11 a.m.," staled a member of the University Hockey team which was bound for Auckland, “so you can imagine how peckish we felt.” " They told us the train would be delayed only a few minutes—that was a hot one,” laugh.d a commercial traveller who left the train at Frankton.