What happened at the Tangiwai disaster?
The Tangiwai disaster occurred at 10:21 p.m. on 24 December 1953 when a railway bridge over the Whangaehu River collapsed beneath an express passenger train at Tangiwai, North Island, New Zealand. The locomotive and first six carriages derailed into the river, killing 151 people.
How many passengers survived the Tangiwai disaster?
At Tangiwai, just 28 of the more than 170 second-class passengers survived. Only one first-class passenger was lost, along with the driver and fireman.
What impact did the Tangiwai disaster have on NZ?
The worst railway disaster in New Zealand’s history occurred on Christmas Eve 1953 when the Wellington-Auckland night express plunged into the flooded Whangaehu River just west of Tangiwai, 8 km west of Waiouru. Of the 285 people on board, 151 were killed. The tragedy left a nation in mourning, and stunned the world.
Where did the Wahine disaster take place?
Wellington Harbour
On 10 April 1968, during an exceptional storm, the inter-island ferry Wahine struck Barrett Reef in Wellington Harbour and capsized.
What were the long term consequences of the Tangiwai disaster?
The consequences of the Tangiwai disaster is the remains of the train, deaths and upset families, also a lahar warning system has been put in place.
Where did the Tangiwai train accident take place?
List of rail accidents in New Zealand. The Tangiwai disaster occurred at 10:21 p.m. on 24 December 1953 when the Whangaehu River bridge collapsed beneath Wellington-to-Auckland express passenger train No. 626 at Tangiwai, in the central North Island of New Zealand. The locomotive and first six carriages derailed into the river, killing 151 people.
When did the Tangiwai bridge collapse in New Zealand?
Tangiwai disaster. The Tangiwai disaster occurred at 22:21 on 24 December 1953 when the Whangaehu River bridge collapsed beneath Wellington-to-Auckland express passenger train No. 626 at Tangiwai, in the central North Island of New Zealand.
Where was the train that crashed in New Zealand?
On Christmas morning 1953, an express train from Wellington, New Zealand, was meant to arrive in Auckland. It never did. At 11:21 p.m. the previous evening, it plunged into the Whangaehu River at Tangiwai in the central North Island.
What was the result of the Tangiwai disaster?
On the 31st of December 1953, Prince Phillip attends the funeral for the 21 unidentified victims of the disaster. A statue (photograph below) was made in memory of those who died in the disaster. Following the disaster, the Railways Department installed a lahar warning system upstream in the river to alert train control to high river flows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5yUASqe0bY