Off the Rails.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 June 1910, Page 3

Off the Rails.

NEW PLYMOUTH EXPRESS TRAIN. ACCIDENT AT KOPUTAROA. The New Plymouth mail ltrain, which loaves Wol liny ton at a otiarter to eight a.in., rail off tho metals south of Koputaroa sfkition this morning. Tiio express, which had a full coinpiwiieii'fc of passengers, passed through Levin at 10.2U and appareiiitly all was well. Oil entering Koputaroa .station, however, it fouled tlie lines, but wa.s 'Milled up tactfully, and as a result no :l:iimage was dime to tiie train, and the passengers merely experienced an unpleasant shock. Telegraphic messages were transmitted to Levin and Shannon-, and relays ot' men wore at once despatched. The narrhgc.s which 'had not fouled the line, were sent hack to Levin; and: the derailed carriages were removed to the skiing. The cause of tine- accident i.s not known, hut it is apparently due to >a defect in the rails. A temporary lino i.s being made tr> connect, with 'the. main system. so that goods and -passenger trains will not he delayed. Tho portion of the train, whicli was sent hack to Levin resumed its journey sliortlv before one o'clock.

AX KYK-WITNESS'S ACCOUNT. A resident of Koputaroa, xfaitps that In l saw the accident niul tluit the p;)'Mi.h<s seemed' to Jio all right. A more feasible theory, he subiwits, is t!i,'it (ho rails spread out. The passengers 'escape from all'serious injuries was due principally to 'the ) net that the engine was slowing H-p, preparatory to taking in water from the tank at Konutaroa. But- she bad iim.pl e fnrey behiiul her to effect (•(•i».«i'.li'rahlc damage to itlio carriages, .the ipermanent way, and I'-'rself. A length' 'of rails anicl sleepers was eomok'tely buried in the ground ; carriages Were twisted and broken badlv, and the engine also was considerably dinmiaored. Allien through traffic is r 'umed t l '-" engine and will to be railed to Wellington for repairs.