A train driver in the Dutch city of Spijkenisse, which is close to the city of Rotterdam, has escaped unscathed after the train he was driving ran out of control through the barriers and off the end of the line where it was caught by a whale.
Well, not exactly a whale, but a rather fortuitously placed sculpture at the end of the line near the De Akkers metro station. Instead of plunging ten metres into the rather chilly water below, the train was caught by the Whale Tail Sculpture, where it hangs rather precariously.
The unnamed driver, who was on the train on his own when the accident happened, was able to walk to safety. He was taken to hospital for a check-up but is not believed to have suffered any injuries.
The sculpture itself, which is not very imaginatively entitled “Whale Tails”, was the work of a local artist and architect, Maarten Struijs, and was erected in 2002. It is actually made from plastic, so Struijs was surprised that the weight of the train didn’t crush the structure. The artist is currently taking as many pictures as possible.
Authorities have not worked out how to get the train down safely, so until they do, the sight will become a bit of a tourist attraction if we were allowed out at this time, of course.
