RAILWAY SMASH on the Main Trunk Line

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 4, 20 January 1937, Page 7

RAILWAY SMASH on the Main Trunk Line

-Presn Association.)

IMPACT FROM REAR 3 Carriages and 4 Trucks of Express Derailed MISHAP NEAR PANMURE

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Jan/19. Three carriages and four trucka were derailed when a goods train of about 80 trucks crashed into the rear of the south-bound New Plymouth express in a cutting about a mile south of Panmure station just before 8 o'clock last night. The Limited express, vwhich left Auckland at 7.5 p.m., Just before tue NeW Plymouth train, had been brought to a standstill when a mechanicsi fault developed in the- engine, and the New Plymouth train had stoppcd just past Waipuna road overhead bridge, where there is a bend in the line. After a brief survey of the damage had been taken^ the Limited express puiled slowly into Otahuhu, where the locomotive was replaced, and it resumed its journey south at 8.45, over an hour lato. The passengers from the three derailed caTriages of the New Plymouth train were crowded into the two remaining carriages and taken to Otahuhu station, where they waited until their luggage should be sent on to them. GOODS TRAIN HITS VAN This train left Otahuhu agam at 11.5 and a motorist who stopped his car on Waipuna road bridge was just in time to see the goods train locomotive pass under the bridge and, impelled by the weight in its string of trucks, strike the back of the New Plymouth mail-vau. Strangely enough, the rear of this van was comparatively undamaged, but the front was sto've in against the next earriagej the platform of each -bemg splintered and the steel worls bucKiea. A peep into the mail-van revealed a jumble of mail-bags, suiteases, pareels, boxes and one glistoning new bicycle. The damage to the remaining carriages was "eonfmed to the platforms and an oceasional splintered pane of glass, while two were lifted from their rear bodies by the following vehiel-e. In their burrled departure the passengers left in their seats newspapers, magazines, chocolates, a bag of apples, and a burst bag of confetti. The four goods trucks damaged were twisted into a Z shape, one lying at right angles aoross the line, while another ploughed a track in the bank beside the line. The permanent way was uiidamaged. THROWN VIOLENTLY FROM SEATS. A passenger on the New Plymouth train said that the iinpaot was suff ieient ot throw the occupants of the train violently oiit of their seas. Ohe woman fainted and several people received cttts and bruises, but not even those in the end seats of the carriages where the damage was greatest were seriously hnrt. A farm hand working near the line said the impact produced a noise like thunder. Although another man said the goods train was travelling slowly, the New Plymouth train Was pushed forward nearly 30 feet. The work of clearing the line was started about 19 o'clock, a breakdown crane and crOw being sent out from Auckland station. Working in the light of oil flares the men worked well into the night, first emptying the contents of tho trucks into«the ditch beside tho line before righting them. It is expected the line will be clear before morning. Meanwhile the route via Newmarket will be used so that railway passengers will be put to littlo inconvenience.