How many people died at Tangiwai?
151
Tangiwai disaster/Number of deaths
What happened Tangiwai?
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.
Where was the Tangiwai train going?
On 24 December – Christmas Eve – 1953, the Wellington-to-Auckland express train derailed at Tangiwai in the central North Island.
Why did the Tangiwai disaster happen?
The cause of the tragedy was a volcanic lahar from the Mt Ruapehu crater lake, which sent a huge wave of water, silt, boulders and debris surging down the Whangaehu River minutes before the express approached the bridge at Tangiwai.
How many were injured in the Tangiwai disaster?
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.
Why is the Tangiwai disaster significant to New Zealand?
Tangiwai was the site of what is considered to be the worst railway disaster in New Zealand’s history. It happened on Christmas Eve 1953, when the passenger train travelling from Wellington to Auckland suddenly plunged into the Whangaehu river at Tangiwai and 151 people lost their lives.
When was the Tangiwai train disaster?
24 December 1953
Names on the Memorial The following is a list of the 151 people killed at the Tangiwai rail disaster of 24 December 1953.
How did the Tangiwai bridge collapse?
The lahar. At 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve 1953, the debris at the outlet of Crater Lake collapsed. Soon after 10 p.m. this volcanic mud flow, known as a lahar, smashed into the main trunk railway bridge at Tangiwai. The concrete piers were knocked out and the bridge partially collapsed.
When was the Tangiwai bridge built?
1968
Waterway optimisation The waterway beneath the bridge was returned to a similar profile to what was constructed when the bridge was originally built in 1968 and this profile was extended upstream by approximately 100m to the corner below the toilet block.
Where is the Tangiwai disaster memorial?
The Tangiwai Memorial is situated just off State Highway 49, between Tangiwai and Waiouru. With the very worst of bad luck, the overnight Wellington to Auckland passenger express train, carrying 285 people, arrived at the bridge shortly afterwards.