SMASH ON MAIN TRUNK.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3517, 2 July 1920, Page 5

SMASH ON MAIN TRUNK.

COLLISION AT TB KAUWHATA. BBT WEEN TWO GOODS TRAINS. A collision between a mixed goods train and a. special mfeat train occurred at the Te Kauwhata railuway station six miles north of Oliinewai in the early hours of yesterday morning, resulting in considerable damage to the rolling stock, and a dislocation of the train time-table owing to following trains being held up. The accident was not attended by any loss of life, or serious injury to any person. In consequence of the accident the Wellington express was held up for about four hours and did not reach Auckland till .1.0.30 a.m.

The collision occurred, between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., (lie trains involved being a sounth-bound goods train from Auckland, which left the city for Frankton at 8.30 p m. yesterday, and a special meal train from Horotiu. The circumstances are that the Auckland goods train No. 233 is timed to leave Auckland at 8.30 p.m., and reach Frankton at 3 a.m. next morning, crossing at Te Kauwhata at ,12.45 a.m. a goods train, which is timed to leave Frankton at 10.30 p.m. So far as can b"e ascertained the Auckland goods train, on arrival at Te Kauwhata ran on to tire loop line in order to allow the Frankton goods train to pass on the main line. In so doing, the train on the loop, a long one, with 80 wagons had to manoeuvre hard up against the southern

points, so that its hindmost wagons might give clearance for the other goods. This was the situation when a special meat train from the FTorotiu Freezing Works, consisting of 25 meat wagons, which was following the Frankton goods came along and its engine struck the engine of fhe goods train on the loop line, the latter having got either past the southern points, or so close up to them as not to allow a clearance. As a result of the collision twelve empty trucks of the goods train were smashed about, and one of them was thrown completely off the line on to its side, while' one of the laden trucks on the meat train was derailed. The cowchatchers were wrenched off the two engines, which also suffered other damage of a fairly extensive nature. A call was at once sent out to the road gangs within call between Huutly and Mercer, with the result that about thirty men were soon engaged on the task of clearing the wreckage and repairing the damage done • the road at the point of collision. The district traffic manager, Mr A. Duncan and several members of the engineering staff were also hurried to Te Kauwhata. and are engaged superintending tire work of clearing the line. The meat train was run back to the Horotiu works.,. It is customary for the engine crew on the Auckland-Frankton 8.30 pm. goods train, which suffered in the accident. to be changed at Mercer, and the driver, who had taken charge of the train this morning at Mercer was having his first run on this shift. It is stated that the view of the en-gine-drivers was obscured by a low fog at the time of the accident.