EXPRESS TRAIN DERAILED

Waikato Times, Volume 196, Issue 22549, 6 January 1945, Page 4

EXPRESS TRAIN DERAILED

DISASTER NARROWLY AVERTED TWO INJURED IN CRASH NEAR RAURIMU PROMPT ACTION OF ENCINE DRIVER (By Telegraph—Press Association) j WANGANUI, Saturday Six cars of the 3 p.m. Wellington-Auckland express dropped 1 4 feet when they were derailed four miles north of the Raurimu spiral at 1.30 a.m. today. Only two persons were injured, although the cars finished 20 feet from the line at an angle of 45 degrees. The injured were: Mrs F. B. Smith, 31 Todman Street, Brooklyn, Wellington; head injuries. Mr A. Nolan, Ikamatua, West Coast, South Island; two broken ribs. The two were treated by an Air Force doctor and a nurse travelling on the train and taken in a taxi to the Taumarunui Hospital. There were 400 passengers on the train. The accident was caused by a heavy fall of earth on the line, followed by a subsidence, there being a hole 50 feet long and full of water just ahead of where the track collapsed. The 7.15 express from Auckland was sent back from Oio, north of the accident, with passengers from the derailed train and the relief one following. The relief express from Wellington was sent back from Raurimu with passengers transhipped from the train from Auckland. The limited express from Wellington and the relief train were sent back from Taihape to Marton, then via Stratford, passing through Aramoho at 8.30 and 9.30 a.m. Expresses from Auckland and Wellington will be diverted over the same route today. TKe damage to the track is considerable but may be cleared by tomorrow night. Forty-ton breakdown cranes were sent from Auckland and Wellington.

he noticed the carriage begin to sway alarmingly and promptly awakened the other passengers. All of them were prepared for the jolt when it came and did not experience the bad jarring which the passengers in the front carriages received. When the express arrived at Frankton today there was a rush for refreshments, the congestion being accentuated by the fact that the Auckland-Rotorua express was still standing in the station. Only counter refreshments could be served and passengers who were able to obtain a hurried cup of tea were fortunate. The late arrival of trains this afternoon there was a heavy strain on traffic organisation at Frankton, but the staff coped with the unusual situation in a praiseworthy manner. Passengers on the main trunk were able to catch the Rotorua express. Other Slips Yesterday On the Stratford line a slip occurred between Okahukura and Tahua at 1.30 p.m. yesterday shortly after a freight train had left a tunnel, the slip burying the wheels of the locomotive in spoil and blocking the permanent way. The silo was later cleared and the express which left New Plymouth at 7.8 last night passed through Frankton at 5 a.m., a little over an hour late. Minor slips occurred on the railways in the Wanganui district, including one near Mangaonoho, 23 miles north of Marton. Work trains were still in operation yesterday between Mokoia and Manutahl on the main line between Wanganui and New Plymouth, where an extensive slip occurred on Thursday. Speed restrictions were imposed in certain localities throughout the district.

ARRIVAL TIMES The first express from Wellington, due at Frankton at 4.30 am., arrived at 1.30 pm. and the relief train, due at 5.15 am., arrived at 2.15 pm. The limited express from Wellington (due 6.50 am.) is expected at 7.15 pm. and the relief train (due 8.45 am.) is expected at .6.30 pm.