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TUNNEL COLLISION

EXPRESS AND GOODS TRAIN MIDNIGHT CRASH ON STRATFORD LINE VAN BEHIND ENGINE SAVES PASSENGERS FROM INJURY [Per United Press Association.] TAUMARUNUI, September 16. The New Plymouth-Auckland express collided head on with a goods train in a small tunnel north of Tuhua, near Matiere, on the Stratford main trunk line about midnight. The luggage van behind the engine saved the passengers on the express from possible injury, as the engine telescoped about 12ft into the van. There were only three passengers in the leading compartment, and none was injured. The engine crews also escaped injury. They saw the approaching lights of the engines and applied the brakes hard, the trains meeting at the slow speed of about 10 miles an hour. Many passengers were thrown from their seats by the im* pact. . The goods train was extensively damaged, the first three trucks being a tangled mass. The first truck, filled with coal, rode on top of the second truck, which was almost broken in two. The third truck was twisted across the line. Another truck and luggage van were also damaged. Taxis from Taurnarunui went to Tuhua at 3.30 o’clock and brought the passengers to Taumaruniii, the last of them arriving at 8 o’clock this morning. Mr Mackley,, general manager of railways, Mr J. Dow, district engineer, Mr W. F. Langbein, assistant district engineer, and Mr W. Bond, traffic inspector, arrived at Taurnarunui early this morning and proceeded to the scene of the accident. It is expected that the. line will be blocked for some time. DRIVER OVERRAN CROSSING. Interviewed, Mr Mackley said that four wagons were derailed behind the goods engine. They were now removed from the tunnel and taken to Okahukura. The goods van behind the express engine was damaged, but the engines were not derailed. It was expected that the line would be all clear to-da;y. Train instructions were given in the usual way, but as the goods train was running a little late and the express was slightly behind its scheduled time, the advice was altered at Ohura. and the crossing of the two trains was fixed to take place at Tuhua instead of the usual place. The driver of the express overran the crossing at Tuhua and entered the tunnel a mile further on, colliding with the goods train. The station master at Ohura advised both i the driver and'guard on the express of the altered instructions, and the driver gave the usual written receipt for his instructions. The station master at Ohura also discussed the matter with the driver and guard at Ohura. ... A departmental inquiry will t>e held.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19390916.2.75

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Evening Star, Issue 23373, 16 September 1939, Page 12

Word count
Tapeke kupu
436

TUNNEL COLLISION Evening Star, Issue 23373, 16 September 1939, Page 12

TUNNEL COLLISION Evening Star, Issue 23373, 16 September 1939, Page 12

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