TRAIN SMASH

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20911, 16 September 1939, Page 8

TRAIN SMASH

EXPRESS AND GOODS HEAD-ON COLLISION IN TUNNELPASSENGERS ESCAPE INJURY SAVED BY LUGGAGE VAN (•» T.l*gr*pn —Prin AmooIMIm) TAUMARUNUI, Saturday The New Plymouth-Auokland express collided heed-on with a good* train In a email tunnel n>rth of Tuhua, near Metier*, on the Stratford-Meln Trunk llna about mldnlghL A luggago van behind tho engine eaved the paseengers on tho okpreet from poeelble Injury, ae the engine teleecoped about 12 foot Into tho van. Only three passenger* were In the leading compartment and none was injured. The engine crews escaped injury. They saw the approaching lights of the engines and applied the brakes hard, the trains meeting at the siow r speed of about ten miles an hour. Many passengers were thrown from their seats by the impact. The goods train was extensively damaged, the first three trucks being a tangled mass. The first truck, filled with coal, rode on top of the second truck, which was almost broken in two. The third truck was twisted across the line. Another truck and a luggage van were also damaged. Passengers Brought By Teal Taxis from Taumarunui wont to Tuhua at 3.30 o'clock and brought the passengers to Taumarunui, the last of them arriving at 8 o'clock this morning. Mr G. H. Mackley, General Manager of Railways, Mr J. Dow, district engineer, Mr W. F. L&ngbeln, assistant district engineer, and Mr W. Bond, traffic inspector, arrived at Taumarunui early this morning and proceeded to the scene of the accident. Crossing Over-run In an interview Mr Mackley said four waggons were derailed behind the goods engine. They were now removed from the tunnel and taken to Okahukura. The goods van behind the express engine was damaged hut the engines were not derailed. Ho expected the line to be all clear today. Train instructions were given in the usual way. but as the goods train was running a little iate and the express slightly behind scheduled time, the advice was altered at Ohura and the crossing of the two trains fixed to take place at Tuhua instead of the usual place. The driver of the express over-ran the crossing at Tuhua and entered the tunnel a mile further on, colliding with the goods train. The stationmaster at Ohura advised both tho driver and the guard on the express of the altered instructions and the driver gave the usual written receipt for them. The stationmaster at Ohura also discussed the matter with the driver and the guard at Ohura. Mr Mackley said a departmental inquiry would be held. SUNK WITHOUT WARNING SURVIVOR'S STORY limited Press Assn.—Elec. TeL Copjrrltflt) (Received Sept. 16, 2.45 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 15 Thirty-one members of the crew ot the Vancouver City have reached Liverpool. The bosun, Mr Michael Conway, said: “We were within a day of port when we were struck amidships without warning. Twelve minutes later the ship had gone to the bottom. We did not see the submarine. ‘The sacond engineer was struck by flying debris, and the other two were killed in the engineroom. Wo took to the boats and later were picked up by the Netherlands steamer Manura." WAR ITEMS ' The Amsterdam correspondent of the t/he London Daily Mall says tbs Gestapo has arrested 20 British subjects in Bohemia. They are being detained in a Prague hotel pending negotiations for exchange with Germans In England. • • • • The Moscow radio announces that the Bank of Poland's gold reserves have been transferred to Rumania. Work on the buildings for the international exhibition to be held at Rome in 1942 is to continue normally, according to instructions from Signor Mussolini. It is learned that the South African Minister in Berlin, Dr S. F. N. Gie, is remaining until the German Minister at Pretoria, Dr. Emil Wiehl, has departed. 0 * • • A Berlin message states that Germany will carry out the international soccer fixtures. A German team will play Hungary on September 24 and Yugoslavia on October 15; they will also play Sweden. • • • • The Ministry of Information, in a communique says the Rumanian legation is calling up reservists resident in Britain.

Women and War Work A well-known resident of Palmerston North has received an interesting letter from a relative in Sydney which states that the women in Australia’s chief city are taking their responsibilities in connection with war work seriously. At the present time there are a number of troops guarding the wharves and other vulnerable points and dinners, which have been cooked in private homes, are taken to these men daily. Needlesg to say this action has been much appreciated.