AMAZING ESCAPE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 19 July 1929, Page 5

AMAZING ESCAPE

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER SYDNEY, 18th July. The express consisted of two medium locomotives, six cars carrying sleeping first and second-class passengers, and a brake van. The train weighed approximately' 400 tons. The brake van was also derailed. The permanent way was torn up for a distance of 200 yards. A relief train was rushed to the scene from Newcastle and breakdown gangs were sent from Wcrris Creek. It is expected, however, the line will be blocked for a few clays. In the meantime Brisbane-Sydney expresses will meet on either side of of the gap and transfer passengers. Fortunately last night's passenger list was not a long one, but all in the capsized cars will remember this-morn-ing for the rest of their lives. As the coaches toppled over panic seized some of the occupants; their screams of terror resounding along the lonely mountain side. Windows were shattered, steel framework twisted, timber splintered, and men and women Hung against the swaying walls of the toppling carriages. Then as the cars' plunging progress ended they set to work to climb out of the windows, which were now'above their heads. The task of reaching safety this way was not an easy one with heavy shutters and broken' glass to impede their escape. All naturally were severely shaken, but no one was injured. BITING FROSTY AIR As the passengers struggled from the wreck many were clad only in pyjamas, which formed a poor protection against the biting frosty atmosphere. Thick billows of fog enveloped them, which added to the confusion for a time. Meanwhile railway men from the Little Black Mountain station, alarmed by the crash, hurried to the spot, expecting to find a scene of carnage, but were astounded to discover none had been caught in the broken and splintered steel and wood of which the carriages were .built and which must certainly have spelt death to any thus trapped. Tile passengers'' escape in this case is probably the most amazing in the annals of New South Wales-railways. A similar derailment of the Brisbane express at Aberdeen bridge in 1920 was attended by loss of life and a long list of injured. The line on this section is a single track laid, with 701 b rails, some of which have been down many years. The derailed coaches were all of modern construction. Two medium engines were used to haul the train'up steep grades hereabouts, the speed averaging 30 miles hourly.