TRAINS COLLIDE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1932, Page 5

TRAINS COLLIDE

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE

NO PASSENGERS INJURED.

(By Ttlegraph—Per Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 12,

A minor head-on collision between a passenger train from Auckland to Papakura, and a mixed passenger and goods train from Helensvilie to Auckland, occurred at the City end of the Parnell Railway Bridge, Both engines were fairly extensively damaged, but no one was injured.

Too Papakura train left Auckland Station at 2.9 p.m., and at the time of the mishap it was proceeding at a slow speed on the right-hand track. When approaching Parnell Bridge, an incoming train, travelling on the same set ot rails, appeared. It was intended for the incoming train to go on to another track, but, just a s the locomotive was taking the points, it was struck by the engine of the outgoing train. The crew of the mixed train, anticipating a serious collision, jumped from the cab on to the ground. Before jumping, however, they applied the brakes, and thus greatly lessened the speed of the train. The force of the impact caused damage to the front portion of both engines, the left-hand cylinder box and driving rod on one of the locomotives being practically wrenched off. A breakdown gang was despatched from the Station yards, and the dftnu aged engines were removed. The line was blocked fop a little more than an’ hour