EXPRESS DERAILED.

Shannon News, 26 July 1927, Page 2

EXPRESS DERAILED.

ACCIDENT AT OTAKI. AUCKLAND-WELLINGTON TRAIN RUNS OFF. ENGINE, VAN AND SMOKER CANTED OVER. THROUGH TRAFFIC HELD UP. The Auckland-Wellington express was derailed between the level crossing and the station at Otaki, * about 11 'a.in. 4 yesterday. The engine and two vehicles were thrown off the line, and through traffic from Wellington was held up. Passengers and mails were transferred at Otaki after the accident. The down Main Trunk express was travelling-at reduced speed down the incline approaching the Otaki station about half an hour later, as repair work was being carried out on the line. Suddenly the engine left "the rails, ploughed into’the metal, and came to a stop on one side of the line, where it leaned over at an angle of about 45 degrees. The postal van and- a second class smoking carnage jumped to the other side of the rails, and were similarly canted over. The speed of the train is estimated to have been less than 20 miles an hour, when the mishap occurred, and by great good fortune there was no injuiry.to any of the passengers ■in the derailed coach, though both vehicles sustained some damage to the woodwork.

The place where the accident happened is between the north'cfossing and the station, and about 100 yards from -

the latter. Had the train been travel ling at full speed (Otaki not being a scheduled stop), the results would have been disastrous. However the eireumstanees were such that a reduction of the rate was inevitable, and consequently no casualties have to be recorded. It is as well that nobody was standing on the platform of the carriage that was derailed, as, owing to the impact, such a position would have proved fatal. The exact cause of the derailment is not known at- present, but it was probably due to the condition of the line in. connection with the repairs. ‘ ~ " -- . There were 17 passengers in the smoking carriage, and about 90 passengers on the train. Palmerston North was communicated with, so that an engine might, be sent from there to Otaki to take back the Auckland carriages and with them the passengers from the up Napier and New Plymouth expresses, which were unable to proceed past Otaki. The passengers for Wellington who were on the derailed train were taken on by the Napier express returning to Wellington. The mails, which were intact, weye also ffansf erred.

A Press Association message states that the accident- was probably due to a defective rail and may have been associated with the effect of frost. The raii penetrated a portion of the 1 engine. The smash was heard a quarter of a mile away. ' • '