TRAIN DERAILED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 87, 17 June 1946, Page 5

TRAIN DERAILED

MISHAP AT PAENGAROA CAUSED BY BROKEN AXLE A ballast train travelling towards Te Puke from Matata on a recent morning suffered a serious derailment when passing the loop points entering Paengaroa station. The engine had several waggons maintained their rightful route on the main line but nine following waggons commenced playing leap frog over one waggon which apparently jumped the points and, veered to the loop line. It would appear that an axle broke on that particular waggon, this evidently' taking place at least two miles away from the scene of the ultimate gambol of this frolicksome line of waggons, this assumption being based on the condition of the line as viewed by our reporter. The recalcitrant waggon broke away, and the following waggons telescoped until the shock was lessened and then rolled over like playful kittens.

There were no injuries to train personnel but at least two waggons were badly wrecked and others suffered severe wrenching. Emergency gangs were quickly on the spot, coming from far as Vauranga on the one side and past Matata on the other side. When our camera man arived at least 40 men were wielding the many tools of trade necessary to move bent rails from their beds and lift 10 ton trucks into more comfortably positions. One truck, for instance, was buried deep in the ground. Looking at it dispassionately our reporter was inclined to the opinion that it might have been cheaper to have covered it over and stamped the ground down!

This is not official, but we understand the guard is sorry his van is not on the casualty list instead for the waggon! It is fortunate that the accident did not occur on express day ! and the Department worked to such purpose that there was little delay, considering the proportion of the derailment, to through traffic. The main line was clear in the afternoon but the huge railway crane was in operation loading the nine wrecked waggons for repair.—Te Puke Times.