FALL FROM EXPRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1929, Page 6

FALL FROM EXPRESS

A MAIN TRUNK INCIDENT. AUCKLAND,. July 4. A fortunate escape from serious injury or form death was experienced by a woman passenger on the southbound Main Trunk express at an early hour the other morning, when she" fell from the moving train, but escaped without a scratch. The express had left Raurimu and was travelling at about 20 miles an hour before reaching the steeper gradients of the spiral which brings the line • up- to AA’aimarino Plains. Two men passengers were standing on the platform of their carriage when they noticed a womain carrying a cup and saucer come from tlie door of the next carriage. She evidently wished to put the cup and saucer on the platform, where they could be easily collected. The men took no particular notice until they heard the crash of crockery and saw the woman falling over the steps 6J the carriage. The emergency sigmil was given, and the express was stopped. The guard, accompanied by some passengers walked back along the track to the scene of the accideji, fully expecting to find that the worst had happened. They were astonished however, to see a figure loom out of the darkness, and presently they met, the woman, who was absolutely unhurt. Apparently she had fallen well clear of the train and the track bed on to the mud of the water tabid The relief of those travelling on the train, including the woman’s litiw girl, may be imagined when the party returned to the train to report “All well.”