Limited Delayed By Collapse of Wheel

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1070, 6 September 1930, Page 1

Limited Delayed By Collapse of Wheel

TRACK BADLY DAMAGED

A FORTUNATE ESCAPE Special to THE SUN PALMERSTON N., Today. The Wellington-bound Limited express was seriously delayed early this morning through tile tracture of one wheel of the forward bogie on the fourth carriage from tne engine. The accident occurred about four miles north of Palmerston North, the tyre parting from the rrai;.s of the wheel, smashing it and causing the rear end of the bogie to leave the rails. The first intimation of the mishap was received by the passengers in the damaged car. Most of them were dozing, but one, Mr. C. G. Loveridge, was awake and heard a ringing sound under the car followed by a serious bumping. He immediately dashed for the emergency signal and had his hand badly gashed in breaking the glass to get at the valve. The train carried on for approximately half a mile after the signal had been given, and finally was pulled up without the passengers in the rear first-class cars and sleepers being aware of any unusual happening. The engine and the three front carriages were sent on to Palmerston North for assistance, 'and in the meantime an investigation of the line was made by the train officials, who found that for about half a mile the sleepers had been fractured and torn, and in some cases the dogs torn out, but that no rails had been displaced. It was said by the gangers on this section that it was fortunate that the line had been recently renewed and that all the rails and sleepers were in first-class order, otherwise there would probably have been a serious smash. At 7.45 a.m.. approximately an hour after the accident, a breakdown train arrived from Palmerston North and a special train was later sent out for the passengers. This reached Palmerston North at nine o’clock, two hours late. There were many complaints at the delay while the passengers were waiting for the second train, but most of the passengers were inclined to agree with a railway official who dryly observed, “We are lucky to be where we are as good as we are.”