Story: Historic earthquakes

Twisted railway tracks, Edgecumbe

Twisted railway tracks, Edgecumbe

In the Edgecumbe rail yards an 80-tonne locomotive lies on its side. After the first earthquake the engine driver had climbed aboard to use the radio-telephone in the cab to warn other trains to stop. The heavier main shock then hit, buckling the tracks and toppling the locomotive. The driver was very shaken but unhurt.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1987/0990/9

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:

Eileen McSaveney, 'Historic earthquakes - The 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/4536/twisted-railway-tracks-edgecumbe (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 28 Mar 2011, updated 1 Nov 2017