Story: Historic volcanic activity

With 151 people killed and many injured, the rail accident at Tangiwai on 24 December 1953 was one of New Zealand’s worst disasters. Because the following day was Christmas Day, there were no newspapers, but on 26 December they devoted their issues to the tragedy. This radio interview is with a local resident who assisted with the rescue. He mentions that the river rose similarly in 1922–23.

Transcript

Eyewitness: There was a young man, Cyril Ellis, I believe, he was the first one down there, and when he found that the bridge had gone, he rushed up onto the line with his torch and waved it. Evidently the engine drivers didn't notice.

Interviewer: It would be pretty hard on a dark night?

Eyewitness: They would most likely be having, perhaps, their supper or something, travelling down there at a great speed.

Interviewer: It's a long, straight run isn't it?

Eyewitness: A long, straight run, yes, and they evidently didn't notice his light. But when the train – after the crash – he mounted the train I believe, rushed into a carriage, and the guard told him not to panic. And he no sooner got those words out than the coupling broke and down went the carriage. Well, he managed to hang on somehow or another, and he also saved two – several other passengers … the only reason that he saved them is having the torch with him, otherwise he could never have seen them.

Interviewer: Have you ever seen this river behave like this before?

Eyewitness: I've seen it, oh, what, 1922, '23 it come up very high one time. It was just porridge, it must have rose seven or eight feet.

Interviewer: And these carriages, when they were swept away, were they swept away at the one time, like just in one swoop, or were they gradually washed over and over down the line?

Eyewitness: Well, I didn't see them; it was too dark, too dark. But to look at the distance the carriages were away from the smash, it must have been a huge body of water that came down.