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Story: Railway accidents

The Tangiwai disaster

  • Tangiwai disaster

  • 3 p.m.

  • 8.02 p.m.

  • 10.09 p.m.

  • 10.09 p.m.

  • 10.17 p.m.

  • 10.22 p.m.

  • 10.30 p.m.

  • The next morning

  • Aftermath

  • Aftermath

  • Aftermath

  • Aftermath

  • The victims

New Zealand's worst railway accident occurred at Tangiwai in the central North Island on 24 December 1953. Click through to see how events unfolded that day.

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Railway accidents – Major railway disasters, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/20603/the-tangiwai-disaster (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 4 March 2010.

Comments

Sarndra
15 August 2011
Arthur and Elizabeth HYLANDS grave at Waikaraka Cemetery, Auckland http://www.flickr.com/photos/porkynz/3583279085/in/photostream/
Sarndra
15 August 2011
Arthur and Elizabeth HYLANDS grave at Waikaraka Cemetery, Auckland http://www.flickr.com/photos/porkynz/3583279085/in/photostream/