A,RUNAWAY TRAIN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 803, 20 December 1881, Page 2

A,RUNAWAY TRAIN.

The Daily News of August 23rd says '.-. —On Sunday evening, about 9 o'clock, whilst a train of eight carriages was bei.'ijf . shunted at Halstead station, ou the-... South-Eastern Kailway, fear Sevnoaks, . it started do-vn the incline on the road to. London without the engine. It continued, its course, increasing its speed as it ran. through, Chelsfield, Orpington, Chiselhurst, and other stations. A telegram, was sent-to all stations, and at the junction above Newcrosa the. signalman with great presence of s mind put over the points, and sent the train into-the sidings in Bricklayers' Arms goods-station,, where • it continued its rapid pace through the , network of metals, and reached the loco-. motive department, running into a dead, road, knocking down the wall, and enter- y ing the premises: of,; Messrs Oastler and ( Palmer, tanners, doing, considerable damage to a wooden building and a quantity of machinery therein. Two carriages- were completely smashed, and . others were more or less damaged. Fivechildren belonging to the ■ statiomuaster at Halstead had a marvellous escape. ~ They were ia.a carriage in the centre of:'* the train, and travelled with it .to London, J receiving a severe shaking, but in no .* otherway being any the worse for the. J adventure. The father fol'owed on the., engine which.should have been. attached _■ to the train, and it is, needless to say J that he was overjoyed upon finding his . children unhurt;