TRAIN COLLISION

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1929, Page 5

TRAIN COLLISION

MAIN TRUNK TRAINS. A NARROW ESCAPE. (By Telegraph—Press Association). PALMERSTON N., October 7. With rear si coper and guard’s van tailing over the loop in the line at the end. of the train, the south-bound Limited express was drawn up alongside the platform at Pokako, ten miles from Ohakune, at an early hour this morning. The front portion of the last Do Luxe sleeper in the train was over the points but the other settioii was' apparently flagged on to proceed. The north-bound Limited, which had been standing at the station, moved out travelling at ten miles an hour on the outside line when it crashed into the part of the other Limited express overhanging the point at the crossing. There was U terrific* impact The big engine smashed into the side, low down towards the rails, below the level of the sleeping berths, the rip pending its way along one-third of the length of the car before one finally' came to stop embedded in the wreckage. Ihe outer wall of the sleeping car was badly ripped open, practically sheered off in parts, but miraculously enough no passenger in the'damaged car was injured. Actually, the engine did net penetrate to more than a few inches as it tore along the side of the carriage, doing considerable damage. People in the bunks > were Btartled, some being thrown out violently. One man’s head was injured. FURTHER PARTICULARS. '■ TAUMARUNUI, October 7. Passengers in a sleeping car on the southbound express had a narrow escape at two o’clock this morning. At the time of the mishap the train was stationary at Pokaka and the northbound Limited struck a sleeping car, which was not quite clear. The car was badly damaged but no one was injured. One man, it is stated, crawled out of a hole in the side of the carriage. The trains were delayed for about two hours. PALMERSTON N., October 7. The side of the car was torn like a sheet of paper, a third of .its, length, when the engine struck it. There is a mass of splintered woodwork and tangled iron. The damage is principally to the lower portion of the carriage side. The force of the, smash canted the sleeping car over at an angle of forty-five degrees. It balanced precariously, being held evidently only by the twisted couplings. That it escaped complete demolition * was remarkable. All the wheels on one side were three feet in the air. Those on the other side remained on the metal. The guard’s van was sufficiently clear of the points to escape damage, hut the wheels were forced off the metal on one side.

The sleeping car was struck on the side opposite the corridor, the, point of impact being nearest the sleepers feet. Included in the passengers in the carriage were several ladies .'find two children, also Major Isitt and HV ingCommander Wallingford, the latter being newly appointed to the with the New Zealand Air Force. Although none ’of the passengers were injured several were thrown violently from their bunks. One man suffered a nasty ferioek on the head. „ nen the impact occurred, the sleeper was plunged into darkness and confusion, but there was no panic. After realising the damage and nature of the occurrence, the passengers in the car hastily dressed and clambered over the sharply tilted platform to the ground. Most of the passengers in th<» other part were unaware of the mishap. The morning was very cold with a thick frost.

It was a sppe+ncnlnr scene with the oil flares.' A difficulty was experienced in extricating a man from the wrecked car. who was firmlv embedded in the splintered wall. Urn damaged sleeper was shoved up with timber jacks and meanwhile another engine was attached to the rear end with the express and the engine in front was withdrawn from the smashed carriage. The engine which hit the carriage was slightly damaged. The guard’s van next to the sleeper was shunted' off leaving the 'former in its original position.; The latter was left behind and the trains resumed, following a lengthy delay. TAUMARUNUI, October 7. Both trains were stationary prior to the accident and the north-bound train was moving out of the station when it struck the sleeper of the other train.