Caterpillars stop train in China

Jun 13, 2011 |

IANS

Beijing

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Caterpillars forced a train to stop in China after they gummed up the wheels and created a thick sticky layer on the track as it chugged on crushing the insects.

The engineers noticed that the train was taking more power to maintain speed as it entered a small valley in the Inner Mongolia region. The train meanwhile slowed and finally stopped.

Officials who arrived at the spot found that the entire place was coated with caterpillars, Global Times reported.

"It was in this big grove of apricot trees, all of which were ravaged by caterpillars," said Fu Jianguo, one of the officers at the site.

Railway workers were called to sweep the caterpillars away so the train could continue on its course.

"I've actually heard of insects coating tracks and causing a short circuit, but this is the first time I've seen it in person," Fu said of the incident about a fortnight ago.

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