PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS ON THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2604, 10 July 1923, Page 1

PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS ON THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Several accident* have occurred on the Main Trunk line. The first serious accident took place at 5 a.m. on May 27, 1914, at Whangamarino, near Mercer, when the north-bound express collided with a goods train. Two passengers were killed and five injured, one of the latter subsequently succumbing to injuries received. Among the injured was Mr F. 8. Goldingham, of Palmerston X.

At the time of the crash it was reported that the express was travelling at full speed and several of the carriages were telescoped. Pitiful scenes were witnessed in rescuing the’injnred, some of them being pinned under the wreckage. Immediately after the accident a number of railway officials proceeded to the building in which the signal lever was housed. They found the lever in position to display a red light for danger at the home signal 200 yards distant. A thick fog prevailed at (he time and it was impossible for the porter who operated the lever to see what light was showing from the station platform. After having noted that 1 the lever stood correctly set for danger the partv proceeded to the signal and found that a green light was displayed instead of a red. The night was very cold and it was presumed that the wires had contracted and caused the wrong signal to be hoisted. MATE VAX SMASHED.

The second serious accident on the Main Trunk line occurred in the early hours of the morning of November 8, 1918, when the southbound express crashed into a huge slip at Mataroa. The mail van, carrying a heavy mail, was smashed to pieces and two of the six mail officers were killed and seven passengers were badly injured, <>ue of the latter succumbing. Two of the carriages immediately behind the postal van were telescoped. The fireman and engine driver had a miraculous escape and were unhurt. One of the mail agents killed was terribly smashed about the head, and the other one was thrown among the wheels and was horribly crushed. The passenger who succumbed bad bis left thigh broken and bis right foot almost severed. He died on the way to Taihape. At the scene of the accident the grades are heavy and the cuttings arc deep and the line in this section is constantly watched for slips, hut owing to the treacherous nature of the connti\ in heavy rains the vibration of the trains as they pass is always liable to bring down falls, and some very narrow escapes have been recorded of trains just getting clear of slips. train runs AWAY. Another fatal railway accident occurred just north of Taihape on the night'of May 14. 1919, when a goods train which was to have pull ed up at a siding at Ngaruakehu to allow the express to pass, got out of control when" going down the incline into Gardiner’s siding. The driver whistled but the brakes refused to act and at a terriffejspeed, estimated at between (10 and 70 miles an hour, the train careered along the line. When Ngaruakehu was reached the speed was estimated at 100 miles per hour as the train pushed the station, rocking dangerously. Three miles beyond the station the engine left the metals and the trucks banked up, some mounting on to the high bank at the side of the line.

The train was composed o{ 35 trucks loaded with coal, timber and sundries. The engine was thrown on its side and some of the trucks were thrown for a distance of two chains along the track. The engine driver was badly scalded and died subsequently. The fireman was also badly scalded but eventually recovered. The guard sustained severe shock but was otherwise none the worse for his trying ordeal. No passengers were on the train at the time. The cause of the accident was stated to be due to the brakes failing to act.