SNAKE ON A TRAIN

Shannon News, 14 April 1927, Page 4

SNAKE ON A TRAIN

GUARD GETS A SHOCK. USE AS A RAT-CATCHER. As a train travelling from Sydney to Newcastle pulled, into Hornsby station on March 9. the guard, who was standing in the brake-van felt something passing softly over his boot. Looking down he was startled to see a large black aud gold snake. He leapt back hurriedly, and saw the snake disappear beneath a pile of luggage. The guard at once notified the station officials, and for 15 minutes an exhaustive, but unsuccessful, search to discover the reptile’s hiding-place was made. On arrival of the train In Newcastle a further search was carried out, when it was found that the snake had taken up its position on the top of one of the ventilators. A sack was procured, and after considerable manoeuvring the snake was enticed into it and secured.

It appears that the snake, which was 14ft. in length and of the carpet variety, was seen on the previous day on the North. Coast mail train from Wauchope to Taree, where the department proposed to use it in the goods shed as a rat-catcher. Curious to see the reptile some of the railway staff cut a small hole in the box in which it was contained, with the result that before the train"" arrived at Taree the snake had gained its freedom. When the North Coast mail reached Sydney, the brake-van was taken off and attached to the Sydney to Newcastle train. ,