MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.
SLIP NEAR TE KUITI.
Te Kuiti, April 8.
The north-bound Main Trunk express ran into a slip between Kopaki and Puketutu 14 miles south of Te Kuiti at 1.40 o’clock this morning. The engine left the line, but the carriages kept to the track. Beyond a severe bumping received by the passengers in the front carriages, there was no excitement. Immediately on receipt of new* of the accident, a relief train was despatched from Te Kuiti and brought the passengers on to the town at about 6 a.m. The journey was continued from here at 9 o’clock this morning by special train from Prankton. Though tired from want of sleep, none of the passengers seemed very much the worse for their adventure. Mr A. Wallace, the guard, stated that all the passengers behaved in a most exemplary manner. There w as no excitement and the transfer lo the relief train was carried out without any trouble. This opinion was endorsed by the driver, Mr A. Blackwell and a passenger.
The slip occurred round a bend in the line and it would be impossible for the driver to see the obstruction until within a few yards of it. 1 lie train was not going fast and the driver had it well in control as was proved by ihe way in which he handled the train after it had struck the slip. The first indication that passengers had that something was wrong was a heavy shock, followed by a succession of bumps cau--ed by the engine running over the sleepers. The engine ran thus for about 75 yards, when the driver brought the train to a standstill opposite a sugar-loaf shaped hill. Ai each end was a deep cutting and about the centre of the train was a gully on one side, with a drop of about 150 feet, it was a magnificent piece of judgment oil the part of the driver. If the brakes had been applied hard when the engine struck the slip the consequences would have been very much more serious. The driver applied the brakes steadily and brought the train to a standstill with both ends in a block cutting. The engine left the jine on the open, or gully side of the track and it seems marvellous that it kept to the permanent way. Those in the front of the express felt the bumping of the engine along the sleepers but those in the back .carriages did not realise that anything unforseeu had occurred. The engine was got back on the line at 2 p.ni, and arrived with the carriages at 3 p.m. at Te Kuiti. Thence it continued to Auckland. Auckland, April 8. Passengers from Wellington armed here by special train at 2.15 p.m., seven hours and 37 minutes lale. There was no shock with the derailment and many passengers slept through the happening. Only one interviewed here could get within 25 minutes of the moment of the accident. The southward Main Trunk express left here as usual.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2719, 10 April 1924, Page 2
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505MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2719, 10 April 1924, Page 2
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