TRAIN BLOCKAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1927, Page 1

TRAIN BLOCKAGE

SUE DELAYS EX I ‘HESS

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Ang. 1

The Railway Department's hope of pettin■’ the express away north this morning proved false it being fmmd alter the debris at the slip at Kaiwaruara was clear and the hillside examined that the top of the slip was still in a threatening condition. Ihe Department decided to run no l isk and tlie men engaged now on the hillside throwing down the earth and rock from the danger spot. At first it was thought that the line would lie safe by noon but of this there is no prospect, and and it is proposed to get two expresses away as one about two o'clock. Trains arc running on flic Mannwar u line as far as Xgaio to Wellington. passengers being met at Xgaio by buses, etc., and being brought nil to town. The whole of the northern .suburban traffic is dislocated, and heavy motor service traffic is passing through the Ngbatiranga Gorge to Johnsonvillo and places further noitli. Traffic to Xgaio and Khnndallali by the Xgaio Gorge is also very heavy. The Railway Department has arranged for tlio express to leave Xgaio at two o’clock to-day, taking passengers for Auckland and Wanganui.

THE DRIVER EXPLAINSWELLINGTON, Aug. 2

The blockage at Kniwarra is giving more trouble than expected. The Railway Department is afraid of further slips and is unwilling to send trains past till the danger is removed. Gangs are still at work removing loose .soil, and meanwhile trains are being despatched from the sußuil)nii station of Xgaio, three or four miffis out. Local traffic lias to tranship at the slip. In the first accounts of the accident ir wa- stated the driver and fireman jumped out before the engine hit the obstruction. Golden (driver) indignantly denies this. He says he was only crawling along on the look-out for possible difficulties, and as soon as he saw the slip, he applied the brakes, ft would not hold owing to the slippery rails and lie then reversed and locked the engine by steam power. It hit Hi? slio without a jar but owing to the loaded trucks being behind and the empty in front the latter telescoped. He never ldft the engine till it. came to a standstill and then found it tv ns undamaged excetvt that the drawbar wiw brokeni