Powerful Wind Causes Trains To Be Delayed

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1942, Page 4

Powerful Wind Causes Trains To Be Delayed

Wellington, Aug. 27. Powerful winds which reached a velocity of 84 miles an hour caused trains to be held up In the Manawatu district last night. The stretch of line over which it was deemed dangerous for trains to travel was that between Shannon and Tokomaru, and the worst point was at Makerua. Three north-bound trains were affected The New , Plymouth rail-car which leaves Wellington at 5,13 p.m. was delayed three hours, the Limlted express which leaves Wellington at 7.15 p.m. was delayed an hour and a-half, and Field's express, which leaves Wellington at 5.47 p.m., was delayed two hours. These trains were held at Shannon till it was declared to be safe for them. to continue. The only southbound train affected was that Ieaving palmerston North at 5.12 p.m. The decision not to let the trains go on till the wind dropped was merely a safety measure. There is a general instruction in the Railways Department that whe#the wind reaches a certain strength the district engineer is to be informed, and it is for him tq decide whether traffic shall proceed. The maximum gust of 84 miles an hour was recorded at Shannon, which did not experience the worst of the wind, but there is no recording apparatus at Makerua.