A RAILWAY SMASH.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1892, 29 October 1913, Page 6

A RAILWAY SMASH.

RUNAWAY TRUCKS AT AUCKLAND (By Tcdeßrapli.—l'rces Association,) Auckland, October 28. Iho failure of a hook coupling released a train of nineteen ballast wagons and a brake van on tho branch lino serving the Railway Department's scoria pit at Mount Albert this afteri. 110011, and tho loaded wagons dashed down tlio lino and into a dead end siding just above, tho Mount Albert station. Seven of tlio wagons were damaged beyond repair, and the Main Luio was blocked tor about half an hour, Tiiero Is a steep riso from tho sidmg to the quarry, tho grade heing 0110 111 thirty. At the foot of tlio incline tlie lino crosses tlio main road and then curves round into, tho Biding wlucli is parallel and clos© to tho main Kamara lino. From the top of tho gradient tlie lino descends into tlio pit, and tlio accident occurred just as'tlio train of wagons was being pushed over this rise. Apparently tlio engine was coupled to tli6 last of tho wagons by a hook coupling only, tho sido chain couplings not being connected, and as tlio big load topped tho riso the coupling opened, and tihe> train broko away down tiio hill. Several hoppor wagons were included in tho train, and tlioso had only hand brakes, but tho otlioi trucks had Westinghouso brakes. The guard endeavoured from his station- in the van at tho head of tho racing train to arrest it by means of tho brakes, but finding that it was beyond control lie jumped out of tho van and alighted alongside tho track without injury. Seventy tons of scoria we.ro contained iu tho wagons, and tlvo train dashed into tli© siaing at a tremendous speed. It was brought to a sudden stop by tho buffer at the end of the track. Tho brake van was turned completely over and seven of the trucks were sniashod while tho couplings and springs on the others Were broken. Oho or two of the derailed wagons fouled thci Main Line, but tho wreckage was soon cleared away, and as the track had not bepii damaged at all, thero was no serious interference with .traffic. An engine followed tho runaiiay down tlio incliae, but, being under full control, was not damaged m any degree.