NARROW ESCAPE OF THE MAIN TRUNK EXPRESS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 151, 29 February 1916, Page 3

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE MAIN TRUNK EXPRESS.

Collision Last Night at Pukekohe. A mishap of an alarming nature, luckily and almost miraculously unattended with any serious datragf, occurred to the Main Trunk Express Irom Auckland to Wellirgton as it was running through Pukekohe Station last (Monday) evening shortly before ten o'clock Pending a Departmental enquiry the railway officials are reluctant to supply any information on the subject The facts, however, appear to be that a goods train tound for Auckland, was engaged in shunting operations at the northern end of the Btation, during which some six waggons were detached from the train and were "kicked-off" by the engine to temporarily remain in the station whilst other trucks were being picked up. By some means no porter was at hand to arrest the progress of tha detached waggons, to which the brake should have been applied, and they ran right through the station and passing over the points at the extreme southern end of the railway yard they ran on to the main line and travelled on a down grade for a farther distance of nearly a quarter of a mile before they became stationary, still on the main line metals, in the vicinity of the signal, known as the distant signal, between Buck land and Pukekohe that clears trains coming from tfce South. The fact that the waggons had rot been stopped in the station bat had broken away and had passed on to the main line (scaped the notice cf those in charge ot the shunting operations ard also of the officials on duty at the station At this moment the Main Trunk express from Auckland appeared on the scene, but although the signal at the northern end of the station by the railway bridge indicated "line clear" ihe traio slowed up at that spot by reason of the hand lamp usually waved on the station platform failing by a remarkable coincidence to be of sufficient brilliancy to corroborate the Betting ot the signal. However, I hat delect was quickly remedied, and the express gradually gathering up speed dashed- through tfce station, but the engine's strong head-lighta were directly wards responsible for the driver, K. Huston, perceiving the danger ahead of nim in sufficient time to apply the brake in order to lessen the force of the unavoidable impact with tha opposing obstacle that awaited him. As it was the express collided with the waggons with considerable force and drove them forward, the express itself being pulled up at wonderfully shoit distance and without the engine or any of the carriages leaving the metals. The first of the detached goods waggons was a truck full of cattle, which became derailed, Wondertul to relate, although the flooring of the cattle-truck was partially demolished and the legs of some of the animals protruded through the boards on to the ground, none of the cattle were found tfl be injured when they were released from their predicament. -The qext truck was laden with coal and it bears vivid marks tf the pattle truck having crashed on to it with extreme violenc?, but neither that truck nor the remaining ones left the rails, although all the buffers were damaged. The station officials rendered prompt assistance, but it was some two hours before the cattle truck was restored to the metals and ihe line otherwisp made clear for the express train to prcceed upun its journey, whigh it did at 12.9 a.m.—atout two hour* and twenty minutes after its scheduled time. The buffers cf the express engine alone showed signs of the collision. The part that the express driver played in restricting the peril that confronted the passengers travelling on the train was highly commendable, and but for his promptitude and ready action, together with the providential slowing up of the trbin before it entered the station, as already explained, a collision of a very serious character would undoubtedly have taken place. The extraordinary fact, however, still remains that despite all human ingenuity in the form of various devices to ensure safety it was possible, even in the absence of proper supervision, for the runaway trucks to open the points from the side line and to pass od to the metals pt the maiD line. An enquiry into the: occurrence is to be held at Pukc i.nhe nrobahlv an ThursdiiV.