RAILWAY MISHAP

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18220, 3 November 1924, Page 8

RAILWAY MISHAP

* LOCOMOTIVE PLUNGES DOWN BANK. BRIDGE PILES COLLAPSE. { .. i i (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") BLENHEIM, November 2. , A small passenger train, which left ; Blenheim for Ward at G o'clock last ; night, was derailed and narrowly i escaped disaster. The mishap occurred 1 just After the train had passed over • the bridge crossing Seventeen Creek, 1 about four miles from Blenheim. The ' bridge, which is some <3oft long and about 14ft above the bed of the stream, i rests on three sots of concrete tiers, i Apparently the flood in the creek had i undermined part of the central tier and ] the weight of the train threw the tier i out of position, with the result that ( tho line tos buckled and the train , thrown off the rails. Fortunately the train had crossed the bridge before j the structure gave way and was on solid ground when it left the rails. ■ The engine plunged from the ]>er- , miinent way down* a b;:nk nine feet , high and now lies at right angles to i the line, with the cow-catcher buried ] in the bank. The carriage immediately . ltehind the locomotive was also derailed , nnd the second carriage partly derailed. \ Tlio guard's van., which completed the -> train, remained on the line. j Neither the engiuedriver (A. S. ' Clinch) nor the fireman (C. L. Wor- j thihgton), who were on the cab- of the engine, was even scratched. The four passengers, all in the second carriage. ' escaped unscathed, as did the guard (A. France). A relief train from Blenheim brought ; the passengers and crew back to town ' and a. wreck train will go out to- j morrow. ■ j