GOODS TRAIN WRECKED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 702, 29 June 1929, Page 1

GOODS TRAIN WRECKED

Subsidence of Line

TRUCKS SCATTERED WIDE „ . WANGANUI, Today. E goods train which left Wanganui at 11 o’clock last night ran into a subsidence in Goat Valley at midnight, the fireman, Mr. R. Green, was scalded on his hands and was taken to hospital.

The engine and several trucks laden 1 with coal, timber, fruit and fish toppled down the embankment. The ! engine falling upside down into the creek. The driver, E.‘ Wilsher, and the fireman, R. Green, had miraculous escapes from deat. Luckily they did not Jump, and if they had, they certainly would have been killed. They managed to crawl out between the engine and the tender. Green was burnt badly by the escaping steam, but Wilsher was uninjuerd except for a slight cut on one hand. Railwaymen here state that the wreck was much worse than the one that occurred at Paekakariki a week ago. It will take some days to clear, the engine being in a difficult position to lift. The rails are buckled and ! broken, Fortunately there were no I passengers, or there would have been | loss of life. The scene is one of great confus- ' ion. The spot at which the accident occurred was built up with ground , taken from a cutting In the vicinity. ; It had probably been shaken by the ! earthquake and saturated by heavy I rain and the bank slipped away under the weight of the 70-ton locomotive. The Railway Department cancelled j all short-distance traffic this morning, j including a train to the Waverley j races. Arrangements are being made to tranship passengers on the expresses. BOULDER ON LINE LONC TRIP SOUTH DELAY AT MANGAWEKA Press Association PALMERSTON N„ Today. The Main Trunk express from the .■torth was delayed over an hour and

a-hal£ this morning owing to the engine striking a boulder on the line near Mangaweka. The cow-catcher was badly buckled, and the engine had to be changed. Fortunately the enginedriver saw ‘ the boulder in time to reduce speed, and so avert a more serious smash. The boulder weighed 2cwt. Passengers by the train reported heavy weather on the line. Very stormy and boisterous weather continues here, but the district is free from flooding, due to the absence of a continuous rainfall. , LIMITED LATE < 1 DELAYED BY ENGINE TROUBLE ’ The Limited did not reach Auckland today until after 11.30 o’clock. Engine trouble at Horopito delayed i the train early this morning, and she • had to be taken on slowly to Ohakune, where another locomotive was re- , quisitioned to bring the train on to Auckland. TRAIN DELAYED ' WAGON OFF THE RAILS A wagon was derailed near Waihi last evening and held up the mixed train which arrives in Frankton Junction at about 8.30 o’clock. The mishap occurred between Athenree and Waimata, and delayed the train for three-quarters of an hour, while the wagon was replaced on the rails. No damage was done to the per-' manent way.