THE DUNEDIN, PENINSULA, AND OCEAN BEACH RAILWAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5233, 31 December 1877, Page 3

THE DUNEDIN, PENINSULA, AND OCEAN BEACH RAILWAY.

(From the Otayo Daily Times, Dec. 25.) The Anderson's Bay section of the Dunedin, Peninsula, and Ocean Beach Railway was to have been formally opened for traffic yesterday afternoon, and arrangements had been made for a meeting of the directors and a number of invited guests at the Anderson’s Bay Hotel, where mutual congratulations were to be exchanged on the completion of the line. Unfortunately, however, an accident occurred about noon, and the usual formalities had tube postponed until a future day. As we stated yesterday, the directors of the company, accompanied by Mr. W. N. Blair, District Engineer, went over the newly formed portion of the line on Saturday in a carriage drawn, by one of the ordinary six-wheeled engines. Then everything appeared to be in proper working order, and tire engine and carriages ran s i oothly and pleasantly. The first inspection of the line was to have been made yesterday morning, and shortly before 1 o'clock in the afternoon Mr. W. N. Blair, District Engineer, Mr. Grant, General Manager of Otago railways, and Mr. Geo. Turnbull, one of the directors, started for Anderson’s Bay. The engine used then was one called “ The Reclaimer," belonging to the Otago Harbor Board, and having only four wheels, and to it were attached two of the ordinary carriages. Everything went well until the train arrived within about a quarter of a mile of Anderson’s Bay, when the engine suddenly left the rails and went over the small embankment, where it stuck fast. The carriages were also dragged off the rails, but were not overturned. When the accident occurred the engine-driver and firemen jumped clear, and escaped unhurt, while the three passengers were able to get out of the carriage without difficulty. The contractors for the formation of the lino at once sent a number of men to the scene of the accident, and the two carriages were speedily placed on the rails again, but the work of raising the engine, which weighs between 11 and 12 tons, was more difficult. A considerable portion of the embankment had to be cut away to make a road for the engine to be drawn up again, and with the aid of screw jacks, levers, a block and tackle, and a windlass, the work was accomplished before dark. The engine did not appear to be very badly damaged,- although the wooden beam in front was split, and the buffers bent. The mishap was attributable to the fact that the engine, having only four wheels, was not suitable lor fast work, and therefore jumped from the rails when driven beyond its usual speed. A number of gentlemen were taken as far as Musselburgh by a train which left Dunedin at ajquarter past 2 o'clock, and they then walked along the line to the Anderson’s Bay Hotel, where refreshments had been provided. Here, aftfer waiting for some time for the arrival of thi£j Hon. James Macandrew and Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, who did not make their appearance, it was resolved, in consequence of the accident, to postpone the celebration of the opening of the Anderson’s Bay section of the line until a future day.