Derailed Wagons Delay Expresses

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 563, 16 January 1929, Page 1

Derailed Wagons Delay Expresses

MAIN LINE BLOCKED MISHAP AT MATAROA (Special to THE SUE) TAIHAPE, To-day. Three wagons of a goods train were derailed north of Mataroa soon after 1 o’clock this morning. The main line was blocked for some time and both the southbound Limited and the second express were held up for four hours. In order to facilitate the running of these trains the two were joined together for the rest of the journey to Wellington. Fortunately, the northward Limited and the first express from Wellington had passed Mataroa before the mishap occurred. A wagon loaded with wool ou a goods train, which left Ohakune for Taihape at about midnight, left the rails about two miles north of Mataroa. It was not noticed for some time as the train was a long one. The derailed wagon was dragged for some distance and pulled two others off the rails. The permanent way was damaged and torn about for a distance of three chains and considerable damage was done to the wagons. A breakdown train was sent out immediately from Taihape to clear the line. The Limited and second expresses were combined at Ohakune and left there at 5.30 o'clock this morning for Wellington, some hours late.

The track was cleared in four hours by the breakdown gang.

LONG TRAIN ARRIVES

RECORD FOR PALMERSTON NORTH PALMERSTON N., To-day. The combined Limited and second expresses arrived here at 10 o’clock this morning. It was one of the longest trains ever berthed at Palmerston North, and exteiXed the full length of the platform. The whole train consisted of two engines and 20 cars.