Disaster Narrowly Averted in Gorge

Chronicle (Levin), 5 November 1949, Page 5

Disaster Narrowly Averted in Gorge

A remarkahle happening which could have had a tragic outcome occurred on the railway in the Manawata Gorge hetween Woodville and Ashhurst about a f ortnight ago. A goods train was proeeeding through the Gorge at mght when the c-up-lings hetween two wagons hecame disengaged or hroke. The result was that the engine and the front portion of the train proceeded through the Gorge, leaving the latter portion with the guard's van at the rear stationary on the' lines. According to reports the guard hecame concerned when he found the "train" had haited for a longer period than deemed warranted hy any ordinary occurrance hut he was galvanised to immediate action when he heard the blast of the horn of an approaching railcar. Arming himself with detonators and a red warning lamp he hurried hack down the track. It is not known whether he had sufficient time in which to tie warning detonators to the rails hut the driver of the fast-travelling railcar apparently saw the fiashing red warning lamp in just sufficient time to hrake his vehicle and bring it to a stop a very short distance from the rear of the guard's van. In the meantime the locomotive and front portion of the train had arrived at a small station where the ahsence of the rear portion of the train was noticed, and the engine travelled back to pick up the uncoupled section. It is understood that two railwaymen are under suspension pending an investigation of the circumstances by the Railways Department.