SNATCHED FROM DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 280, 19 April 1911, Page 5

SNATCHED FROM DEATH

ON THE MAIN TRUNK LINE. A TRAIN STOPPED IX THE NICK OF TIME. A PROMPT AND PLUCKY ACTION. By Telegraph.—Press Asssciation. Auckland. Last Night. The Main Trunk express, which left Auckland on Monday evening and which numbered His Excellency the Governor amongst its passengers, narrowly escaped meeting with a serious accident shortly before reaching Westfield, between Penrose Junction and Otnhuhu. It was due to a smart and prompt act in the stopping of a runaway train that the threatened disaster was averted. A passenger train leaves Auckland for Qtahuhu every evening at five minutes to nine, and arrives at Otahuhu at 0.28 p.m. It is then shunted on to a siding, where it awaits the passing of the Main Trunk express, which leaves town at 9.15 p.m. The train then returns to the city, leaving Otahuhu at f1.43 p.m. This train went out to Otahuhu as usual on Monday evening, but, after the engine had been uncoupled from the carriages in connection with the shunting operations, the train (consisting of four carriages and a van) by some means got awav, and ran back on to the main line down the incline towards Westfield. The engine remained at the station, and as the express was nearly due, the alarm whistle was sounded vigorously in order to attract the attention, if possible, of the driver of the express and warn him of the threatened collision. There were two passengers in one of the carriages of the slow train. The blowing of the engine's whistle attracted the attention of Mr. R. Claude, caretaker of the Auckland Saleyard Company's yards at Westfield, who was in his house near the yards at the time. On looking out he saw the runaway coming down the incline from Otahuhu in one direction, and the express coming up in the distance in the other direction. Mr. Claude, realising the seriousness of the situation, ran to the railway line, leaping over two or three fences as he went. On reaching the line the runaway train had just passed, but he ran after it and succeeded in jumping on the rear carriage and applying the Westinghouse brake, with the manipulation of which he is fortunately familiar. The train having been brought to a standstill, Mr. Claude ran in front of the train and waved a red light, and the express pulled up safely within only about three chains of the other train. Naturally the two passengers on the train which got away, as well as those on the express, who were made aware of the cause of the sudden stoppage, experienced a considerable shock on learning of their narrow escape from partici-. pating in a collision. Lord Islington's special carriage was in the front of the train, next to the engine.