What was the effect of the Tangiwai disaster?

The causes of the Tangiwai Disaster is Mount Ruapehu’s Lahar and the water levels that cause the bridge over the Whangaehu River to give way. 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.

How did the Tangiwai disaster affect New Zealand?

The Tangiwai tragedy killed more people than the combined total of all the other rail accidents in New Zealand history (the next-worst accidents, at Hyde in 1943 and Ōngarue in 1923, claimed 21 and 17 lives respectively). It is worth noting, too, that in 1953 road accidents in New Zealand claimed 279 lives.

Why the Tangiwai disaster is significant?

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.

What caused the train to crash at Tangiwai?

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.

When was the Tangiwai disaster?

December 24, 1953 Tangiwai disaster / Start date

When did the Tangiwai train leave?

On 24 December – Christmas Eve – 1953, the Wellington-to-Auckland express train derailed at Tangiwai in the central North Island.

What happened to the Tangiwai bridge?

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 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.

Who was Cyril Ellis?

In the dark, 27-year-old Taihape postman Cyril Ellis was one of the first on the scene. With rail guard William Inglis, he leapt into the tottering carriage, which was balanced at a 45-degree angle on the sheared-off rails, and remained inside as it toppled into the river.

What does a locomotive do?

locomotive, any of various self-propelled vehicles used for hauling railroad cars on tracks.

Who died in the Tangiwai disaster?

At 10.21 p.m. on Christmas Eve 1953 the Wellington–Auckland night express plunged into the flooded Whangaehu River at Tangiwai, 10 km west of Waiōuru in the central North Island. Of the 285 passengers and crew on board, 151 died in New Zealand’s worst railway accident.