RAILWAY COLLISION AT MARTON

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 10, 5 February 1909, Page 4

RAILWAY COLLISION AT MARTON

TWO KX(iINI*:S DAMAOKD. The collision thai occurred at Clarion Junction nu Tuesday had some lional feature's. The I'almprston Standard *riv«*.s the. following — It appears the mils vmi. on both sides of the station. The Main Trunk train liad just come in on one side, and I In* engine was shunting a couple of trurk>% on the other lino to be taken south by the N'ew Plymouth expros. which was ju»l about due. The were s«-i for "all clear." so it i; staled, and the driver of tin- New I'iynioiith train naturally came on. rnfortimately. however, the shuntiujr 'engine just came "ii to tlic main lilt. (lie express, drawn I>y two engines, ran alonjj. As soon as the drivers saw that a collision was inevitable they immediately applied Ihe powerful brakes with such effect that strips of steel were torn oil" the wheels. It was too late, however, and the two engines met head'on with a crash.

l'assongers who were comfortably seated were suddenly thrown down. and several fainted, while one child was knocked through a window. J'ortunately jio one was hurt, and the matter so far was not serious. In the dining car matters were somewhat worse, and the crockery and table furnishings were strewn on the iloor. Several passengers who happened to bo there received nasty bruises, hut beyond the broken crockery m> serious damage was done. The 'engines fared tin* worst. The cowcatchers of the (wo 171 immediate collision were smashed to pieces, while the rigid lit. bar that is now used as a connecting rod between the. two New l'lymouth ongims was twisted like a piece of rusty scrap-iron. Hoth locomotives were, derailed, as was al*o the assisting engine and the line was hopelessly blocked. Men were hastily summoned, and at once got to work with jacks to oll'ect a clearance, but it was a labour of extreme dillienlty, as the two engines were locked .together, and it was not until an hour and a half later that the express was able to continue her way. She was due at .Marlon at 2.H p.m.. and did not leave till tt.4o p.m., arriving hi L'uliuerslon at J. 5.") instead of 3.22. i