W.S.W. TRAINS COLLIDE

Chronicle (Levin), 10 June 1948, Page 9

W.S.W. TRAINS COLLIDE

(N.Z.P.A.-

- Reuter ,

Four Carriages Derailed But Nobody Killed

, Copyright)

Beceived Wednesclay, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, June 9. When the Cessnock express crashed into the rear of the Newcastle, Flier near Cowan station, 30 miles north of Sydney today, hundreds of passengers were thrown -into heaps and the engiiie and four carriages were derailed. . Thirty passengers were treated at Hornsby Hospital and by doetors and many more suffc'ered shock and abrasions. The crash occurred 011 a bend when the Sydney -bound Newcastle Flier, one of the fastest express trains in New South Wales, was having difficulty in ascending the hill. The engine failed to grip the tracks made slippery by heavy rain and the train came to a standstill for ten minutes. While the driver was attempting -to get it moving again and the guard was preparing to place warning detonators 011 the line, the Cessnock express, normally 14 miuutes behind the Flier, rounded the bend and struok the stationary train. The last carriage of the Flier, and engine and two leading carriages of the express, were derailed. Fortnnately the last carriage of the Flier contained only one passenger — an American Avrestler who descrihed the collision as "something like a shortarm jolt." He was uiiinjured. The smash occurred in liilly country half a mile from the nearest roadway. Twelve amhulanees rushed to the soene and two hours after the accident dazed passengci's were still receiving treatment. The injuries comprised shock, cuts, hruises, sprains and dislocations.