Another Train Mishap

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 271, 6 February 1928, Page 9

Another Train Mishap

PETROL WAGON DERAILED

Dragged Two Miles

A WAGON on the 3.55 a.m. goods train from Auckland this morning, which was derailed near Whangamarino, six miles south of Mercer, damaged the main line considerably and held up train traffic. A broken axle box was the cause of the accident.

It is estimated that the wagon left the rails over two miles before the mishap was discovered. Tearing their way along the permanent track the derai ed wagon wheels cut some of the sleepers almost in halves where they were not covered with ballast.

PASSENGERS on the Limited this morning stated that the damage to the track could be seen for some miles. Pieces of splintered sleepers were lying along the track, showing that the wagon must have left the rails long before the train was pulled up. Fortunately the mishap was discovered before the points at Whangamarino were reached, otherwise a most serious accident would have occurred, and probably several other wagons would have been thrown off the track and smashed up. The derailed wagon was a tanker filled with petrol. These wagons are rather topheavy, and sway when the train travels fairly fast. The accident occurred at 5.45 'o’clock this morning, and repair gangs were

sent from Mercer to assist in putting tire wagon back on tlie rails and in repairing the line for the Limited. As soon as this was done the goods train was taken on to Whangamarino and the damaged wagon left at the siding. . „ Tile Limited was a quarter ot an hour late in leaving Frankton Junction and lost more time at the scene of the mishap, as it had to be piloted slowly over the damaged portion of the track. She arrived in Auckland at 10.36 a.m. Officials from Auckland visited the scene of the mishap to-day. Railway mishaps are becoming more and more numerous. On page 8 of this issue of The Sun is an article dealing with an invention which will reduce considerably the damage from accidents of the kind which occurred this morning.