RAILWAY WRECKERS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1926, Page 1

RAILWAY WRECKERS

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION PALMERSTON N., April 3, Another attempt at a railway Serai nient, similar to that of March Bth. when cattle stop rails were laid aero. l the metals at the Terrace End am Kelvin Grove roads crossing, was per petrated at a crossing two miles 01 the Eeilding .side of Jlunnyt-horpo thi: morning The engine of an early good; train, which leaves Palmerston Jfortl about 3.30 a.m. for .Marton, crashec into an. obstacle at the crossing men tinned, about 4.30, the effect being similar to that when the Limited Express met a like trouble at the Terrace End-Kelvin Grove crossing, there being again a fortunate escape from derailment. A “.Standard” reporter who investigated the matter, learned that six wooden cattle-stop beams Itad been laid across the permannt way. They wore smashed and scattered by the hoc wheels of tli engine; and tho individuals concerned did not stop at that, for it is stated that tho signal wires of Bunnythorpo station were' also cut. r fhe police wore advised and are investigating to-day.

A THIRD ATTEMPT. PALMERSTON X. Ap. 5. A tim'd attempt in less than a mont.l: tn wreck a train within three or t'uu: i miles el Palmerston Xortli wos made on Saturday evening when the late mixed train Ironi Napier ran into a obstrnetion on a level crossing about a mile on the At hakaronjza side of the municipal "'as works. Investigation revealed the engine had struck seven cattle .stop hen ms. which had been torn up and laid crosswise over the metals, exactly the same attempt at derailment its was perpetrated on the Auckland line near Riimiylhorpe early on Saturday mornin.tr, and at the Terrace end of the Kokin Grove crossings on the even-

ing of March Bth. In all cases tlieengine’s bogey wheels smashed and scattered the wood without leaving the track. In each case the escape from a- major accident has been I’ortiimile, lor the crossings were all so situated to be sufficiently distant from a station to ensure the train being travelling at a lair rate of speed. When the engine ol the Napier train hit the obstruction mi Saturday night, it lifted perceptibly, as the bogey wheels crushed the beams, hut kept to tlu l track. The passengers wore unaware of anything unusual occurring and did not feel the shock. In connection with the Btumythorpe incident oil Saturday morning it transpires that in addition no placing an obstruction on tin- lino amt eutting tlie signal control wires, tlie train wreckers severed a. number of telephone wires running alongside the railway. The police are continuing their investigation.