NZHistory.net.nz, New Zealand history online - trains

Tangiwai railway disaster

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

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

The North Island main trunk line

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

The 'Limited' express train

Film: the royals on the West Coast, 1954

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Film Clip: the Royals on the West Coast

Still shots and description

The royal aeroplane lands in Westport. Scenes of crowds welcoming the Royal couple. Then we cut to scenes of the Royal train leaving for Christchurch via Arthur's Pass.

Commentary:

'Main outlet for the Buller coalfields, Westport gives a real mining community welcome. There they are for everyone to see, bless 'em. At every wayside station the children wait in loyalty and excitement. The Queen is journeying from the West Coast to Canterbury, right across the South Island - a magic carpet for every watching child.'

Film clip: miniature train at the Centennial Exhibition

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Film clip: miniature railway

Still shots and description

'Miniature Railway'. The camera pans along a dark blue locomotive engine. But this isn't a full-size engine, it is part of the Exhibition's miniature railway. The film cuts to show a small aircraft landing on the other side of a fence - showing just how close the exhibition is to the Wellington Airport. Next we watch the train snaking around the curving corners towards us. A small white dog scampers beside it, trying to out-run the train. The carriages are open so that the passengers have a good view of the sights. We watch the train from another angle, and see that the carriages have white stripes on them. Spectators huddle around the track, watching as the train goes by. The clip closes with a scene of a crowd, who are perhaps waiting for their turn on the miniature train.

Rise and fall - the North Island main trunk line

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Up and running

Hear about the North Island main trunk line

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