What happened at the Tangiwai railway 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 the first six carriages derailed into the river, killing 151 people.
What caused the Tangiwai disaster?
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 people died in the Tangiwai train crash?
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.
Who 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. Most of the passengers in the final three (first-class) carriages, which remained on the track, initially did not even know what had happened to their train.
What impact did Tangiwai disaster have on NZ?
Tangiwai disaster Of the 285 passengers and crew on board, 151 died in New Zealand’s worst railway accident. It was, at the time, the world’s eighth-deadliest rail disaster and made headlines around the globe. The nation was stunned.
Where was the Tangiwai disaster?
Whangaehu RiverTangiwai disaster / Location
When was the Tangiwai train disaster?
– 1953
On 24 December – Christmas Eve – 1953, the Wellington-to-Auckland express train derailed at Tangiwai in the central North Island.
How fast was the Tangiwai train going?
Travelling at approximately 65 km per hour, locomotive Ka 949 and its train of nine carriages and two vans reached the severely weakened bridge at 10.21 p.m. As the bridge buckled beneath its weight, the engine plunged into the river, taking all five second-class carriages with it.
Who was the train driver in the Tangiwai disaster?
driver Charles Parker
They were locomotive driver Charles Parker, who initiated an emergency brake, and locomotive fireman Lance Redman, who sanded the tracks to help the train brake faster.
What is a lahar NZ?
Lahars are a well-known hazard on Ruapehu. The combination of a large volume of water (10 million cubic metres in Crater Lake) poised high (at about 2500 m) above the surrounding terrain on top of an active volcano constitutes a potentially hazardous situation should the volcano erupt or crater rim fail.
Why is the Tangiwai disaster significant to New Zealand?
New Zealand’s worst railway disaster occurred 60 years ago 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.
Where is Mt Ruapehu?
New Zealand’s North Island
Mt Ruapehu rises from the Central Plateau, in New Zealand’s North Island, alongside neighbouring peaks of Mt Ngāuruhoe and Mt Tongariro.
When did Mount Ruapehu last explode?
September 25, 2007Mount Ruapehu / Last eruption
What lahar looks like?
A moving lahar looks like a roiling slurry of wet concrete, and as it rushes downstream, the size, speed, and amount of material carried can constantly change.
Is Ruapehu about to erupt?
The crater lake’s still hot and the tremors continue, but experts say an eruption at Mt Ruapehu is still unlikely. However, the chances are higher than they were two months ago. GNS has been monitoring the heightened unrest of the volcano for the past five weeks as it has exhibited sustained volcanic tremors.
How fast does a lahar travel?
Lahars mostly travel down river valleys and can reach great speeds, traveling up to 45-50 miles per hour (75-80 km per hour) or more on steep slopes. The concentration of volcanic debris in a lahar is variable; some lahars are relatively dilute and others are a thick slurry that can transport large boulders.