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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 1 (May 1, 1931)

The Big Programme Begins

The Big Programme Begins.

The earthquake occurred at approximately 10.50 a.m. on Tuesday, 3rd February, and within eight minutes, or to be exact, at 10.58 a.m., headquarters had been advised by the Stationmaster at Waipukurau that a very severe earthquake had taken place and that communication north of his station had been interrupted. Shortly afterwards advice was received that the viaduct between Ormondville and Kopua had been damaged and that the Napier mail train could not get through and was returning to Takapau. The General Manager (Mr. H. H. Sterling) immediately communicated with the heads of his departments and arrangements were made for a special breakdown train in charge of an Inspector of Permanent Way and a special gang of workmen to leave Woodville at once, picking up men and material in order to effect any repairs to the line that might be required. This train left Woodville at 12.5 p.m., 1 hour 15 minutes after the earthquake had occurred.