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TRUCK DERAILED.
Breakdown Gang's Awkward Job.
NORTHAM, AprN 9.-Big Bertha, the
special truck constructed for the handling
of big weights and which, with another
large truck, is transporting two large
ball mills to Kalgoorlie for the Great
Boulder Proprietary. was partially de
railed in the Northam railway yards
early this morning. The mills, one on
each truck, weigh 18 tons each and the
total freight that is being carried by
Big Bertha; which weighs 34 tons 10cwt.,
is 37 tons 1~cw?.
The derailment occurred just before
7 o'clock, when the Kalgoorlie express
was approaching East Northam, where
it was intended it should cross the freight
train. As a result of the mishap the ex
press was. delayed at Northam for about
15 minutes. - The goods train, which was
carrying other heavy freight to Kal
godrlie apart from the ball mills, was
crossing over from one set of rails to
another with the two heavy trucks next
to the engine. The engine and the front
bogey of Big Bertha successfully ne
gotiated the points and gained the main
line, but for some reason the rear bogey
continued straight ahead on the other
set of rails. The big space between the
front and rear sets of bogeys enabled
the train to travel on different lines for
some yards until the rear portion of
Big Bertha was dragged off the rails, one
of which was completely turned over.
The freight was not damaged.
The special breakdown crane was dis
patched from Perth and arrived in Nor
tham about noon. It was at first thought
that it would be necessary to unload
the truck before attempting to lift it into
position, but eventually it was decided
to attempt the bigger task of lifting the
truck and load together. The crane.
which "is intended to handle 25 tons, was
thus called upon to lift somewhere about
half the combined weight of the truck
and its freight,, the other half being
borne by the front bogey. The rear of
the truck was detached from the bogey
and after about 21 hours work the truck
was lifted clear and placed over the rails
which the front bogey was, and packed
with timber. The rear bogey was
placed on the adjoining set of rails
and afterwards. Pushed into position
under the truck. The work was watched
by a large crowd of interested spectators.
The cause of the derailment will be
the subject of an investigation.
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