Story: Railway accidents

Rakaia rail accident, 1907

Rakaia rail accident, 1907

The devastation that can be caused by railway accidents is captured here. A southbound train collided with a northbound train full of volunteer soldiers north of Rakaia, Canterbury, early in the morning of 29 March 1907. Both trains were seriously damaged, and several people were injured, but – amazingly – nobody was killed.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Edward George Child Collection (PAColl-3084)
Reference: 1/4-016571; G

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Railway accidents - Rail safety issues', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/20590/rakaia-rail-accident-1907 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 11 Mar 2010