Pages tagged with: tangiwai

12 February 2009 marked the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Penguin, NZ's worst 20th century maritime disaster. The disasters timeline provides a quick overview of our worst natural disasters, transport accidents, fires, mining accidents and other tragedies that have caused major loss of life.

How police responded to the disasters, particularly Tangiwai, Wahine and Erebus

New Zealand's worst railway disaster occurred on Christmas Eve 1953, when the Wellington–Auckland night express plunged into the swollen Whangaehu River near Tangiwai. Of the 285 people on board, 151 were killed. The tragedy stunned the world and left a nation in mourning.

A volcanologist's photograph of the ice cave that melted on Mt Ruapehu

The unfortunate sequence of events that led to the Tangiwai disaster

For most second-class travellers, travelling the main trunk meant a long, sleepless journey on hard-backed seats, struggling to find 'elusive comfort with the NZR pillow'.

For many Maori the Royal Visit raised important issues about their place in New Zealand.

This map shows the wide dispersal of wreckage after the engine and first six carriages of the Wellington–Auckland express plunged into the Whangaehu River near Tangiwai on Christmas Eve 1953.

How locals and police responded to New Zealand's worst railway disaster

The wreckage of the Wellington–Auckland express and the remains of the railway bridge at Tangiwai, 25 December 1953

A rescue party at Tangiwai carries the body of a deceased passenger of the Wellington–Auckland express.

Rescue party at a wrecked carriage of the Wellington–Auckland express at Tangiwai

Identifying victims is a major task following any mass tragedy. A number of circumstances made this process particularly difficult at Tangiwai.

Constable Ngaere W. Lankow was one of two policewomen singled out for praise for laying out the dead in the mortuary at Waiouru.

HRH the Duke of Edinburgh attends the mass funeral at Karori Cemetery, Wellington, on 31 December 1953 for 21 of the victims of the Tangiwai tragedy. A few months later the grave was exhumed when it became clear that a number of the bodies were misidentified.

Twisted train tracks lead to the banks of the Whangaehu River, Tangiwai, the scene of the railway disaster of 24 December 1953.

One of the most memorable and poignant moments in New Zealand cricket history occurred on 26 December 1953, just two days after the Tangiwai rail disaster.

The cover of the book Tragedy on the track

Car Z was the only first-class carriage to tumble into the Whangaehu River at Tangiwai.

Amateur cameraman Mr Edwin Nitschke shot this film on an 8-mm camera on Boxing Day 1953, two days after the Tangiwai disaster. Clip five of five

Amateur cameraman Mr Edwin Nitschke shot this film on an 8-mm camera on Boxing Day 1953, two days after the Tangiwai disaster. Clip four of five

Amateur cameraman Mr Edwin Nitschke shot this film on an 8-mm camera on Boxing Day 1953, two days after the Tangiwai disaster. Clip three of five

Amateur cameraman Mr Edwin Nitschke shot this film on an 8-mm camera on Boxing Day 1953, two days after the Tangiwai disaster. Clip two of five

Amateur cameraman Mr Edwin Nitschke shot this film on an 8-mm camera on Boxing Day 1953, two days after the Tangiwai disaster. Clip one of five

Hear Lionel Sceats talk about the Tangiwai disaster.

Hear an interview with a local eyewitness of the Tangiwai disaster.

Mr W.J. Anderson, a survivor, describes his experience of the Tangiwai disaster.

Wreckage of first-class Car Z, 27 December 1953

An inspection is made of the fallen bridge span and locomotive, 25 December 1953.

Hear Prime Minister Sidney Holland's Christmas Day announcement about the Tangiwai disaster. Holland spoke by phone from Waiouru Military Camp to Wellington, where the recording was made on disc for later broadcast.

Whether or not people survived the Tangiwai disaster depended largely on which class of carriage they were travelling in.