SENSATION ON NORTH TRUNK LINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3198, 20 April 1911, Page 5

SENSATION ON NORTH TRUNK LINE.

NARROW ESCAPE OF EXPRESS. NEARLY COLLIDES WITH RUNAWAY TRAIN. GOVERNOR AND ACTING PREMIER IN PERIL. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. J AUCKLAND, April 19. The Main Trunk express-, which left Auckland on Monday evening, and which numbered the Governor amongst its passengers, narrowly escaped meeting with a serious accident shortly before reaching Westfield, between Penrose Junction and Otahuhu. It was due to the smart and prompt act in the stopping of a running tram that the threatened disaster .was averted. A passenger train leaves Auckland for Otaliuhu every! evening at five minutes to 9 and 'arrives at Otahuhu at 9.28 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 9.43 p.m. EMPTY TRAIN RUNS AWAY. 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 away and ran. baek on 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 to attract the attention, if possible, of the driver of the express, and warn hint of the threatened collision. - „ : There were two passengers in one of the carriages of the slow train. PROMPTNESS AND PRESENCE OF MIND. The blowing of the engine’s whistle attracted the attention of Mr R. Claude caretaker of the Auckland Saleyards Company’s yards at Westfield, who was in his house near the yards at the time. On looking out, lie 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 iline, leaping one, two, or three fences as he went on. Reaching the line, the runaway’train had .just passed, but- he ran ‘after it, and succeeded jn jumping on the rear carnage and applying the Westinghouse brake, with the manipulation of which he is fortunately familiar. THE DANGER AVERTED. 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. When Mr. Claude caught sight of the runaway train he was one hundred yards away, and the express was going at the rate of 30'miles an hour, add the runaway at the rate of 20 miles an hour. Mr. Claude jumped on fthe runaway and applied the Westinghouse brakes. He showed a red light to the express. He informed the two passengers of their danger when the express pulled up within two yards of the runaway. Even if ihe driver ofjbhe express had seen the danger earlier he could not have averted a collision.

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 participating in a collision. A TESTIMONIAL FOR THE RESCUER.

Lord Islington’s special carriage was in front of the train, next to the engine. The Hon. J. Carroll and the Hon. Thorne George, M.L.C., headed a subscription to a fund in recognition of Mr. Claude’s service, and it is intended to recommend the Government to do something substantial in that direction.