THE TRAIN WRECK

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1928, Page 3

THE TRAIN WRECK

CLEARED THIS MORNING. (By; Telegraph—Press Association). PALMERSTON N„ Sept. 21;. With the completion of the, loop-line at tlio scene of the derailment, tho Main Trunk express passed through Palmerston North only half an ■ hour behind schedule time. Hie passengers on' tho Limited Express last evening, who spent the night here, were transshipped to tlie south-bound Limited at the scene of tlie mishap. - The latter train then left, for Auckland. Passengers on the down train were brought to Palmerston and joined the night Limited which returned to Wellington. It is expected the ordinary schedule will be maintained from now on, until the line is repaired. , Four vans' of mail matter were on the trains, including the English mails from ,the steamer Devon for Wellington and South Island. These were sent forward by tlie seven o’clock train this morning.

It is estimated that 186 bags were carried, and, although the contents of the vans were scattered in all directions, only a few were badly crushed. A postal gang worked all night, checking and sorting the confused mail matter. Tlio full extent of the damage will not bo known until.the mails reach their destination. Some bags pinned fast had to be cut open to allow the removal.of the contents. The arduous task was completed at 4 a.ni.;; , with the exception of two bags which were inextricable, but later they were released when ; t]io wreckage was levered away. In the face of those 'hardships, there was only 'two to three hours delay in the arrival of this mail at its destination. :

CLEARING THE WRECKAGE. ;< BIGGEST SMASH YET. PALMERSTON N., Sept. 21. With the arrival of a crane early tills morning, the work of removing the derailed trucks commenced and was continued/throughout the day, but it is not expected that the main line will be cleared and re-built until tomorrow night. It is expected that all. evidence of the accident will be removed by Sunday. The smash is the biggest on the line in this district, and probably in the history of the Railway •Department: The cause of the 1 accident nou been definitely'.ascertained. The truck came off the line for an unknown reason, and, after going some distance, struck the points at a siding. Thereafter the rails spread, derailing twenty to twenty-two wagons. The permanent way was very badly damaged, the sleepers being torn into fragments and the rails badly out df alignment, while the wooden postal vans were reduced to matchwood. Strangely enough the guard and the passengers felt only a slight-jar, several trucks remaining oil the line between the carriages and the derailed portion of the train. Goods were scattered all along the line from the mishap, including sugar and powdered casein. Five trucks of the latter were among those derailed. The powder and sugar were spilt in profusion. The derailed wagons able to run will be placed back on the line and brought into Palmerston North. The whole of those badly damaged will he brought in on bogey wagons. , A complete telephone service to tho scene of the 'mishap was rigged up by MlO a.m. and there was direct communication between the engineers on Uie job and the train control office at Wellington, as well as the local and bedding stations.

A PASSENGER’S • COMMENT. PALMERSTON N-, Sept. 21. An experienced traveller among the passengers commented, but for the effi cienev of the Westinghouse blakes, a serious loss of life would probably have been involved. Ho paid a tribute to the prompt organisation by the railway and the postal staffs, whose enterprise was a commendable teatuie.