UNATTENDED TRAIN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29507, 8 May 1961, Page 12

UNATTENDED TRAIN

Journey From Trentham

(NZ Press Association) WELLINGTON. May 7. An unattended three-car unit train took an unscheduled trip of about eight miles from Trentham to Woburn about 7.30 p.m. yesterday.

How it came to leave the siding in which it was stored at Trentham and start its run down the main line is a mystery to the Railways Department, which is investigating the matter. The General Manager of the department (Mr A. T. Gandell), said tonight that the train had been stored in the Trentham siding earlier in the afternoon Later it was observed travelling down the main line at a sneed of 10 to 15 miles an hour.

The progress of the train was watched by staff on duty at Naenae and Woburn and arrangements were made to sidetrack it at Petone. However, it came to rest just south of Woburn station.

“At no time did the moving train present any danger to other rail traffic as it was under observation and was operating the signals in the normal way,” Mr Gandell said. The cause of the runaway was unknown, but an inspection of the handbrake showed that it had been only partly applied ,he said. It was not known whether anyone interfered with the handbrake while the train was stored at Trentham or what caused it to start moving after it had been standing for several hours.