RAILWAY SMASH

Hokitika Guardian, 6 June 1927, Page 2

RAILWAY SMASH

EXPRESS DERAILED. NO CASUALTIES. [llY TELKGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] TIMARU, June 4. With a fearful and resounding crash, at 11.-10 a.m. to-day, the express train from Christchurch came off the line a few yards front the north signal box of the Timaru Station. The engine slewed right around, and came to earth almost at right angles to the track.

Four carriages were derailed siniul taneouslv.

By ail extremely lucky < ban eg. the passengers on the train, numbering several hundred, escaped a sudden and terrible death. No one was injured.

Both the driver and fireman had a miraculous escape, getting off with nothing worse than a severe shaking. The line was badlv torn up for many yards, and owing to the position of the engine, lying across four sets ot tracks, traffic both northward and southward will prolxiblv h* subject to a prolonged delay, if not m total stoppage to-day, until the wreckage can be cleared and the lines restored.

The engine presented a terrible picture, lying on its side, with the wheels in the air, and huge jets of steam hissing from every outlet.

Coal from the tender, which also had completely left the truck, was strewn about the line, with debris of tangled steel and woodwork from the following carriages liberally scattered about.

The tender was telescoped into the engine, the cab of which had its roof and sides hopelessly wrecked. Water from the tender poured out upon the tracks in great volume, the tender having been stove in. Solid steel rails had been broken and smashed to pieces and heavy sleepers torn from their beds in wonderful fashion, so great must have been tlic driving power ol the engine wheels as the engine tore its wav along the track lor many yards from the point oi derailment to where it finally swung around and crashed to earth. The engine finally stopped when its hogcv wheels had smashed completely a, wooden picket fame separating the railway tracks from the road which fronts on to the Timaru Harbour.

The driver of the train was Mr R

Stone, of Limvoml, Christchurch

and lie stuck to his post with great presence of mind, and did what little was in the power of a human to arrest the terrifying onward rush of the train

and its precious cargo of human lives. As the engine hit the ground, he scrambled out ol the cab on to the track, escaping with a. severe shaking and sundry bruises to his hack. His companion, Fireman J. I.ok, of Morris Street, Christchurch, a second or two before the crash, jumped clear of the cab, luckily choosing the side away from that on which the engine came to earth. Had he jumped on the other side, he certainly would not bo alive to-day. Interviewed this nitornoon, the stationniaster advised that a relief train was oil the wav to Timaru lrotn Christchurch, and that the passengers from Titnnru and South for Christchurch would ho transferred to this train, which would stop just beyond the scene of the smash. He also stated a breakdown train and crew had been despatched from Christchurch to clear the line and wreckage as speedily as possible. He did not anticipate the passengers to Christchurch l*?ing unduly delayed,

DAMAGED LINK AND ENGINE. TIMARU. June 6.

Shortly before dark last evening tin over turned express engine was removed from the track, the lines restored and ready for through traffic, so that normal conditions will prevail to-day. A large gang of men was employed throughout the great part of Saturday night and yesterday in the work of reconstruction. The damaged engine will he dismantled. and thus removed to the workshops. It is severely strained and would probably have been unable to travel under its own steam in any case.