Train Derailment Delays Expresses

Chronicle (Levin), 19 January 1949, Page 6

Train Derailment Delays Expresses

AUGKLAND, Jan. 18. ,'j The express which left Auckland for,!; Wellington at 3 p.m. today, was field upr' at Frankton for more than four hoursv and the Liinited express to.. Wellington?, was also dela,ved some tinie a? the re-|« sult of fiye waggons on a goods train ; being derailed south of Ohaupo iatei this afternoon. Other railway traffic,., including a mixed tr^m^m^^aru-jl nui, was also delaycd but the Hue was cloared at about 10 p.m. and trains on,| the Main Trunk were using the alfect-1 ed section shortly.afterwaxd.^„*D.'.' " , i) The cause of the accident was no# known tonight. The train, which was carrying a ;-lqq:d pf- general . goods lef# Frankton at 3.'50 p.iri. fo|t. Taumarunui; When it was nqar a cutting about a quarter of a milB north of Ngaroto, a> sliort distance past phaupo at 4.50 p.m., 1 five of the waggons' were derailed and] completely blocked the line. No oue was hurt and there was no extensive damage to the trade. A breakdown train with cra'ne and gangs ■of men, was immediately sent from Frankton and the arduous job of clcaring the line was started a soon as it arrived. Hours of hard work were necessary to jack the derailed waggons elcar of the line, the work taking until shortly before 10 p.m. After the waggons had been shifted from'. the track the rest of the train had to be taken slowly back to Ohaupo before other traffic could move through. The line was again ready for use at about 10.20 p.m.