NAPIER TRAIN HELD UP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2597, 23 June 1923, Page 3

NAPIER TRAIN HELD UP.

BY SLIP NEAR WHAIvARONGA. The down Napier mixed train due to arrive at Palmerston North at- 8 p.m. collided with a slip on the line at about 7.30 last night, when two miles from the Whnkaronga station on the Ashhurst side. The slip fell shortly before the train’s approach, and a resident, Mr E. Speedy, went out to inspect the line. On hearing the approaching train he struck a light. Fortunately, the driver saw the warning gleam, and put on the brakes, though too late to avoid crashing into the obstruction. The big engine, with a long and heavy train behind it. ploughed right through the earth only stopping when the front wheels struck a sleeper bridge on the other side. This bridge crosses a drop of 50ft. or more and had the driver not been warned of the danger a very serious accident would probably have occurred. As it was, the bogey wheels of the engine left the rails as did also a truck about half-way down the train. There wore some -Ift passengers on hoard but no one was hurt and the carriages wore not damaged. Breakdown gangs were despatched from Ashhurst and Palmerston North. The line was eventually cleared and the train reached Palmerston North at 1.20 a.m. Passengers and mails were conveyed to Palmerston by cars.