OFF THE RAILS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1426, 29 April 1912, Page 4

OFF THE RAILS.

i\AI(UOW ESCAPE OF KAKOIU CAR, A rumbling sound, accompanied by considerable bumping, mid contrasting strangely with the usual smooth running ot a combination car, rather alarmed passengers of tram car No. 40 as it slid dowa the lull from the Karori tunnel on Saturday evening. The alarm was, however, quickly dispelled by the tram coming to a, standstill. The. back of the car had left the rails and made its way towards the outer edge of the road, halting within live or six feet of what looked like a sheer drop of about fiO fent. Needless to sny, this declivity was viewed with much interest by the live passengers, who alighted. , ' I lie car left the Karori Council Chambers at . r > p.m. with about linlf-n-ilomii passengers aboard. AH went well until approaching the tunnel, where it appeared to those in the front of the car thut a collision with an up-tram was only •averted by the prompt reversal of the power. A single line run? through the tunnel, mill Ihore lire no .-ipiinl lights o» at Pirie Street to indicate that a tram is iu the tunnel. Having proceeded on its way, car No. 1(1 had just passed tho woodou viaduct when, as pieviously stated, the back wheels left the rails. Fortniiatel)V'tlin"front wheels hum,' to the track, and the prompt application of the brakes , nyerlod any serious results. An examination of track showed that Ihe wheels hail junmed the points, whero there is apparently a severe strain on the rails owing to a sharp turn. The incline is fairly sleep at this point, and \v.u\ the motorman been exceeding Mi ,s|>ec<l limit, the. car would probably hav« taken the quickest route to the foot ol the viaduct. As it was. it seemed aluiost miraculous that it did not topple ov«r sideways, The iron guide wa? placed dotrh, and cffoit* wore at once made to pet tho Mr back to thk line. Tivo pressmen, wlio had been passenger* by the tram, left the motorman and conductor engaged in this task, and made their way to tiie city, via Kelburne.