RAILWAY SMASH

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1930, Page 6

RAILWAY SMASH

ON MAIN TRUNK. TWENTY-SIX VEHICLES PILED Ul> <By Telegraph- -Per Presß Association.) WANGANUI, SeptiV " A serious railway smash occurred about a mile and a-half north xif Mangaweka about six o’clock this evening, when 26. trucks, mostly liujfeji with coal and timber, were piled up m a mass of wreckage. The accident o,C;, curved in a cutting about a quarter of a mile south of the Mangaweka via-, duct. Some of. the sleepers ; thrown on to the top of the .bank twenty feet about the railway; fine, and the rails were twisted and * ! ,beqt l some Being left in a vertical ()positiou. -,.

The train comprised 41 trucks, v, Hyp; engines and a guard’s van. tfc was s after leaving Taihape, and was duejivt, Mangaweka early in the a 1 ternpoii; but was considerably delayed. Atthej time of the accident the tram,travelling downhill on a ; bcml.y. trucks some distance back from thq..pn-. gines came off the rails, causing, (il the, accident. . The engines- and the .first. 18 trucks were not effected... Neither., was the guard’s, van. • ■ . The exresses and mails, are held, up;, and the work of restoring' the. pernia-.., nent way will be considerable, lit* w.iili take till daylight. ‘ • -

The 2 p.m., express from. Wellington to Auckland is delayed at Mai-toO.-The-Limited express is delayed at Palmed-! stony ■ ■ t % 'l :l

'.The south-bound expresses wiil riot reach the scene of the smash till'dayt light. m

Motor-cars will take Wellington seiigers to join the expresses ...frj(j»in ( Auckland on the northern side qf,. the smash.