OBSTRUCTIONS ON LINE

Otago Witness, Issue 4031, 16 June 1931, Page 72

OBSTRUCTIONS ON LINE

ATTEMPTED TRAIN-WRECKING EXPRESSES ESCAPE INTERFERENCE. AUCKLAND, June 8. What appear to have been deliberate attempts to wreck two trains on two separate nights happened on the railway line about six miles south of Te Awamutu during the week-end. On the first occasion a sleeper was placed across the line, and the engine of the 7.50 p.m. mixed train from Te Kuiti to Frankton Junction struck the obstruction. The incident was reported and inquiries were made, but not much notice was taken of the occurrence.

When a similar happening occurred on Saturday evening to the same train, however, matters took on a much more serious aspect. This time a coil of copper wire weighing one hundredweight had been placed on the line at practically the same spot. The engine crew did not notice it aud suddenly a heavy jolt shook the train. It was found on investigation that a coil of wire had become entangled in the undergear of the engine as well as round the wheels, axle, and brake blocks of the wagon immediately behind. It took the train crew close on half an hour to disentangle the obstruction before the train could be moved forward. On neither occasion did the engine or trucks leave the rails. On Friday night both the express trains from Auckland to Wellington ran over that section of the line. There are no expresses south on Saturday evening. The expresses travel through at anything up to 35 miles an hour, but the mixed trains were travelling slowly when they encountered the obstructions.