MAIN TRUNK SENSATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 981, 20 April 1911, Page 2

MAIN TRUNK SENSATION.

A RUNAWAY TRAIN. COLLISION NARROWLY AVERTED. A PLUCKY ACT. Auckland, April 18. The Main Trunk express, which lelt Auckland on Monday evening, and which numbered his Excellency amongst its passengers, narrowly escaped meeting with a serious accident shortly before reaching Westfield, between Penrose Junction and Otahuhu, It was due to the smart and prompt act in the stopping of a runaway train that the threatened disaster was averted.

The passenger train leaving Auckland at 9.43 p.m. tor Otahuhu went on to Otahuhu as usual on Monday evening, but on arrival, after the engine had been uncoupled from the cars in connection with the shunting operations, the train (consisting of four cars and a van) by some means' got away and ran back on the main line down the incline towards Westfield. The engine remained at the station and as the express was nearly due the alarm whistle was sounded vigorously in order to attract, if possible, the attention of the driver of the express, and warn him of the threatened collision.

There were two passengers in one of the cars of the slow (rain. The blowing of the whistle of the engine attracted the attention of Mr R. Claude, caretaker of the Auckland Saleyards Company’s yards at Westfield, who was in his house near the yards at the time. On looking out he saw the runaway coming down the incline from Otahuhu in one direction,, and the express coming up in the. distauce in the other direction.

Mr Claude, realising the seriousness of the situation, ran to the railway line, leaping over two or three fences as he went. On reaching the line the runaway train had just passed, but he ran after it and succeeded in jumping, on the rear carriage and applying the Westinghouse brake, with the manipulation of which he is fortunately familiar, and the train was brought to a standstill.

Mr Claude then ran in front of the train and waved a red light, and the express pulled up safely within only about three chains of the other train.

Lord Islington’s special carriage was in front of the train next to the engine.

CLAUDE’S PRESENCE OF

MIND

TO BE SUITABLY RECOGNISED.

Auckland, April 19. When Claude caught sight of the runaway train it was a hundred yards away, and the express one and a half miles distantBoth were travelling down a decline, the express at twenty miles an hour, and the runaway at eight miles an hour. When the express pulled up it was within two chains of the runaway. Even if the driver of the express had seen the danger earlier he could not have averted a collision. Hon. James Carroll and Hon. Thorne George, M.E.C., headed a subscription list to a fund to recognise Claude’s service. It is intended to recommend the Government to do something substantial in that direction.