ABOARD THE “WILD CAT.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2760, 15 March 1910, Page 2

ABOARD THE “WILD CAT.”

THE JOYS OF A GOODS TRAIN

A NERVE-RACKING TRIP. Among the varied forms of excitement, pleasurable and otherwise, associated with travelling on the New Zea. land railways, there is surely nothing to surpass the thrilling sensation of a trip on the night “wild cat” train between Paeroa, To Arch a, and Frankton, says the “New Zealand Herald.” This is the linn conviction of those venturesome but misguided individuals who entrusttheir lives and limbs—to say nothing of nerves-—to the tender mercies of this fearfully and wonderfully arranged curiosity of our radway system. The particular “wild oat” in question —there are others—/has a far from •enviable reputation throughout the Thames Valley and Waikato districts. It is a goods train, consisting mainly (if -an imposing array of “‘returned empties.” It not infrequently extends into over a-quarter of a mile in length, and on one occasion lately it comprised upwards of a hundred trucks. Small account is taken of passenger traffic • in fact, passengers mo apparently regarded as intruders, who must lie discouraged rather than encouraged. 'The travelling public, in the absence of any regular passenger night train, often find it necessary to avail themselves of the “wild eat” for getting from Thames, Paeroa, and To Aroha to the Waikato and also for connecting at Frankton with the Main Trunk' expresses. The Department in order to meet the wishes of such people, goes so tar as to attach one of the older types of second-class carriages—a first-class oar is an unthought-of luxury —to the rear of the trucks. Sometimes there are only a few passengers—which is not a matter for great wonder —but on other occasions there are a number, and amongst uIL who have taken passage by it the discomforts of the “wild cat” •have become quite a byeword. The “wild oat” figures on the list of advertised trains, but it has a supremo and lofty contempt lor such trifles as time-tables, and with it

punctuality isb-- no means tlio soul of business. An hour or two je a mere fraction of time, so far as it is concerned, and on last Saturday night the train was two hours late in reaching Frankton, the journey from To Aroha occupying two hours and a-half. The comfort of passengers who have tho temerity to trespass on to this train is, as inav be imagined, .too small a detail to be taken into consideration. The unconscionable period during which the train tarries at the station for ■shunting purposes is a great tax on patience, but the severe jerks that passengers are subjected to whenever the train halts, or makes a fresh start, is adding insult to injury. These jerks are at times .'sufficient to throw unwary people off their feet, whilst for women of wea'k nerves the experience is one that is even more dreaded . As passengers, arc required to pay their fares, they not unnaturally wish to know why some hotter provision is not made for their comfort. If there is not sufficient traffic for an extra passenger train an effort might at least be made to minimise the discomforts of the nightly “wild cat.”