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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 4 (August 24, 1926)

In Flood Time — Dealing with Traffic Interruptions—Good Work in the Winterless North

page 26

In Flood Time
Dealing with Traffic Interruptions—Good Work in the Winterless North

The test of efficiency in any business is capacity to deal with emergencies. In this respect those employed on railway work in New Zealand's “Winterless North” have recently been afforded ample opportunity to show their mettle, for although cold cannot settle on the Northern Peninsula, the elements take revenge in another direction.

Such an occasion occurred in May last when the Whangarei-Auckland express was hemmed in between two washouts near Pukanui (a few miles north of Helensville). About half of the seventy passengers (including nine women and five children) elected to remain in the carriages overnight, and they were supplied with refreshments by the local residents. The remainder were conveyed through the flood water to a point opposite the Kaukapakapa hotel in a railway wagon pushed by the line maintenance gang, the roads at the time being impassable. All passengers were conveyed by motor to Helensville next morning, and thence either to Waimauku or Wharepapa, there making connection to Auckland by means of specially extended suburban services.

On 10th July the rain again descended and kept on doing so for three days. The result was that the passengers who left Whangarei on 12th July were forced to remain at Maungaturoto overnight owing to the southbound Whangarei-Auckland express being unable to proceed over the flooded area which extended for several miles between Wayby and Kaipara Flats; nor could they travel by road. Neither the passengers nor the Railway staff were, however, disconcerted by this interruption to traffic. The women passengers were billeted at settlers' homes in the vicinity, and the majority of the men spent the night in the railway carriages. The Stationmaster at Maungaturoto (Mr. F. G. J. Temm) kept the station open all night and the refreshment room staff stayed on so that refreshments could be obtained whenever required. Large fires were provided and reports indicate that all spent a comfortable night. Although about a hundred passengers were thus prevented from reaching Auckland that day, only three of them elected to return to Whangarei. The others had their confidence in the temporary nature of the obstruction fully justified the following morning, when a special train was provided to enable them to continue their journey to Auckland which was reached without mishap early that afternoon.

“It.” —From the London “Star.”

“It.”
—From the London “Star.”

Mr. B. Davidson, who has been employed in the Auckland Goods Shed for the past two years, has been selected to tour England with the “All Black” New Zealand League footballers. His exploits will be followed with interest.