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PASSAGE OF THE 12.6 EXPRESS

OR HOW THE TOTALISATOR WAS BEATEN.

When the 12.6 train pulled out of the Lambton Station on Saturday bound for Trentham there Was never a doubt - in any breast that the thousand souls on board would reach the racecourse in timo for tho third race. A stout porter oh tho platform, after conning over tho race-book to see the time the race was run, said "Surel" The conductor, with that superiority bom-of long acquaintance with trains and punters who rode in them, said—"Third race? Easy!" 'The thin gentleman with the bald head and tbe pince-nez, who was reading the "Spectator," judged that they would be there in plenty of time, and a redfaced bookmaker, who sat opposiic, made no attempt to forestall the totalisator. So one and all concluded that it would be all right, and settled down to enjoy the pleasant run along the waterfront. The pace of the train was not excessive, but that troubled 110 one, as the public aro such bad judges of pace (vide evidence in tramway and motor-car Court cases). Beyond the Hutt station, wOicre tho silvern waters of the- river glided under the waysido willows, the 12.6 seemed to tire of tho pulling contract it had so cheerfully taken on, and a butcher's delivery cart passed the crawling coaches with a laugh. Just near Harvard's the train went slower and' slower, until it pulled up dead, not with , a jerk, but with all tho gentle gradualness of slow exhaustion.

"It's to let another train through with troops," ventured a man who looked as though he knew. Then someone looked out the window and remarked that there was no siding, and nothing could pass—except tne tradesmen's carts on tjie road. Ahead black smoke went.-up in fat puffs from a little engine. A man with a black' beard and oil between his fingers'looked out aud muttered—"Short of steam 1"

.There was the authority of an engineer in the' remark, and the first faint doubt about getting there in time' for the thjrd race entered the back-door of the mind vaguely. Still there was plenty of time—a full half-hour. Surely something would happen-to settle ail wondering 6. After five minutes the steam gauge of the engine apparently notified, its control that it was ready for another go, and away the train went, tearing off the miles at the rate of about five to the hour, until a few hundred yards _ from Silverstream, when the poor little engine -gave another- deep sigh, and came to rest. "Give it some real coal I" suggested a voice from a "smoker."

"If we all got out and walked over tho bridge, would it help?" offered a facetious commercial traveller, who knows the ways of New Zealand trains, and said he had often helped to push one -up a hill. There was much stoking forward, and after a ten minutes' wait those who had settled themselves for the night were rudely awakened by a jerk forward. Very slowly the train gathered way, weakly traversed the bridge, and crept shamefacedly into the Silverstream station, where another train awaited the. '.'lame duck." Those on board the train had been kept from despairing by the presence on board of a Salvationist hand. Having got that far the odds on reaching Trentham in time "for the third" shortened, the distance being comparatively nil. But the train took some knowing. Evidently tho last burst had just managed to allow it to clear the Silverstream station. Then' it stopped again with great dignity, and the odds at onco lengthened. On this occasion tliero was more speculation, to the accompaniment of brassy "Hallelujah" strains from the other train, which also appeared to be short of wind, I but after a spell of eight or nine minutes tho race train went off at a bound, and this time made Trentham—at 1.2S p.m., There was a wild rush to the gates, much struggling for a place in the sun, and a final dash to the "tote" to get the ready bit on. Alas, for the hopes of the punters: no sooner had they arrived at the machine than the bell'rang and the shutters closed with a thud. The speed of the 13.0 had beaten the Lmacbino'fur £SQQi

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19150421.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
712

PASSAGE OF THE 12.6 EXPRESS Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 3

PASSAGE OF THE 12.6 EXPRESS Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 3

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