Car Z was the only first-class carriage to tumble into the Whangaehu River at Tangiwai. It was swept onto the riverbank, and 21 of its 22 occupants were rescued. The other three first-class cars and two vans remained on the track. Those travelling in the five second-class cars were not so fortunate – out of more than 170 second-class passengers, only 28 survived.
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