LINE REPAIRED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 389, 25 June 1928, Page 1

LINE REPAIRED

SMASH AT PAERATA RAILWAYMEN’S SMART WORK By 6.30 o’clock on Saturday evening, the main rarrway line between Paerata and Pukekohe, where the smash occurred on Saturday morning, had been cleared of wreckage and new rails had been laid. Shortly after this the 5.11 train from Auckland to Frankton Junction was able to pass over the scene of the morning’s railway disaster. This was remarkably smart work by the repair gangs, which were rushed to the scene of the mishap on Saturday. Over 50 men were employed in removing the wreckage from the rails and in repairing the track. The was supervised by Mr. J. Dow, engineer new works; Mr. W. T. Langbein, assistant railway engineer; Mr. Gordon, inspector of permanent ways, and Mr. Moore, car and wagon inspector. This morning a trainload of wreckage was removed to Newmarket, and the remainder of the damaged wagons and trucks will be taken to the repair sheds. It is estimated that the damage done to rolling stock and permanent way amounts to over £6,000. Much of the freight from the 35 wrecked trucks will be saved. Coal, timber, six barrels of \eer, and a large quantity of merchandise have been recovered and the work of salvage is going on to-day. The train services have not been interrupted and the work of repairing the line will go on without delaying any trains. This morning the Limited went slowly across the repaired break and drivers of trains are taking every precaution.