WONDERFUL ESCAPE
COBDEN BBS SMASH. GREYMOUTH, Sept. 21. The sound of a heavy smash, and the sight of a motor bus being dragged along by an engine, startled the people who were in the vicinity of the Cobden Bridge shortly after 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The proprietor of the Cobden Motor Service, Mr 11. MeGlaslian, with four passengers, was proceeding to Cobden, when a train, shunting on the main line, caused him to stop. He then crept along towards the bridge. The heavy rain and the noise of the engines around somewhat confused him and he failed to notice the 4.10 train from Rewanui, which was coming over the railway bridge. The train, comprising between 30 and 35 coal trucks, was not equipped with the Westinghouse brake. This, combined with the steep gradient which is in evidence from the end of the Bailway Bridge to the main railway track, made a collision liiuu'o idable, and before anything could he done the smash had occurred, the engine catching the hack wheels of the bus and dragging it fully 15 yards before it could be pulled up. Two of the wheel's of the bus wore ripped off, its motor was damaged, and the woodwork oil both sides staved in; and it seems little short of miraculous that none of the occupants was injured by the impact. Fortunately, the side screens and curtains were of celluloid, as had they heen glass there is little doubt that more serious results would have attended the accident. Mr McGlnshnn was thrown through the windscreen. The traffic was somewhat disorganised for a time, eventually ropes having to he attached to the bus and dragging off the railway track by ail engine. Gangs of workmen then had In (upsize the bus, in order to clear a passage for the onward-bound express from Christchurch, which was delayed some 15 minutes by the accident. The bus is something of a wreck, and it will take a Vot of repairing. It is understood that -Mr MoGlashan is not covered by insurance, and will he a heavy loser.
The bus was a Ford, aiul had .seating accommodation for about 20 persons.
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Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1927, Page 2
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359WONDERFUL ESCAPE Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1927, Page 2
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