New Zealand Disasters: Tangiwai Railway Accident (24 December 1953)

The worst railway disaster in New Zealand’s history occurred on Christmas Eve 1953, when the Wellington to Auckland night express plunged into the flooded Whangaehu River, just west of Tangiwai in the central North Island. Of the 285 people on board, 151 were killed.

The cause of the tragedy was a volcanic lahar from the Mt Ruapehu crater lake, which sent a huge wave of water, silt, boulders and debris surging down the Whangaehu River destroying the railway bridge at Tangiwai just minutes before the Wellington to Auckland overnight express arrived. The train plunged into the raging torrent and the driver, fireman, one first class passenger, and 148 of the 176 second class passengers died.

See also:

• Tangiwai Memorial http://www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-monuments-war-...
• New Zealand History https://nzhistory.govt.nz/tangiwai-railway-disaster-0

The 151 killed:

1. ADIN Henry 66, Married, Labourer, Purcell St, Foxton
2. ADIN Frederica Ernestine (Queenie) 55, Married, Purcell St, Foxton
3. ANDERSON Margaret Jean 38 - - 39 Bristol Sq, Lower Hutt
4. ANGEL Johannes Petrus 23 Single Mechanic Post and Telegraph Dept Hostel, Wellington
5. ATTREE Trevor Crawford 21, Single, Apprentice, 7 Michael St, Masterton
6. BACON William Trevor 25 Single Clerk 6 Maida Vale Road, Roseneath, Wellington
7. BAGLEY Ann Victoria (Mrs) 58 Married - 33 Adams Terrace, Wellington
8. BAILLIE Hilda Mary Grace 36, Typist, 126 Rutherford St, Nelson
9. BENGE Colleen Frances 21 Single Machinist 18 Green St, Newtown, Wellington
10. BENTON Beverley Dawn 6, Ahura Street, Marton
11. BENTON Edward Roslyn 42, Married, Ahura Street, Marton
12. BENTON Florence Ann 37, Married, Ahura Street, Marton
13. BENTON Glenys Eileen, 9, Ahura Street, Marton
14. BENTON Roslyn Anne 3, Ahura Street, Marton
15. BOOKER Murray Robert Grey (Murray Robert Craig) 7 1/2 Single - 13 Roy Street, Newtown, Wellington
16. BOUCHER John White 31 - Civil servant Weka Street, Taihape
17. BRADLEY Thomas John 23 - Railway Employee Manunui, Taumaranui
18. BRENNAN Bettina Melody 29 Single Typist 43 Bristol Sq, Lower Hutt (Levin and Co Ltd, Wellington)
19. BRETT Wilfred Lee 53 - Bank officer C/o BNZ, Taihape
20. BRIGGS John Hammond 23, Civil engineer, Maxwell Road, Tauranga
21. BYARS John Fleming 29 - Engineer Victoria Heights, Nelson (Levin and Co Ltd, Nelson)
22. CAPPER Desmond James 22 - Accountant 1 Drummond St, Newtown, Wellington
23. CASLON Patricia 24 - - 48 Seatoun Rd, Kilbirnie, Wellington
24. CLARK Trevor Charles 21 - Clerk Public Service Hostel, Wellington
25. COCHRANE Georgina Maitland (nee Maitland) 62, Married, 226 Tremaine Avenue, Palmerston North
26. COCKBURN Douglas Robertson 12, Single, 43 Te Ore Ore Road, Masterton
27. COCKBURN John Harold 17, Single, 43 Te Ore Ore Road, Masterton
28. COOK Edith Monica 23 (24) - - C/o YWCA, Brougham St, Wellington
29. CORMACK David Avery 60 Married Clerk 13 Meeanee Quay, Napier
30. CORMACK Violet Olive (Mrs) 58 Married - 13 Meeanee Quay, Napier
31. COX John Morrison 23 - - 11 Mills Rd, Brooklyn, Wellington
32. COX Mae Morrison 47 - - 11 Mills Rd, Brooklyn, Wellington
33. CRANCH Jean Mary 19 - - C/o Public Service Hostel, Oriental Parade, Wellington
34. CROUCHER Eric William 24 - Electrician 56 Calabar Rd, Mirimar, Wellington
35. CROWLEY Joan May 30 Single - 45 Coromadel Street, Wellington
36. DAVIES Gordon Leonard 28 Single - 27 Bridge St, Lower Hutt
37. DIGGLE Janice 4 mnths, 51 Bamber St, Whanganui
38. DIGGLE Norman Cyril 33, Painter, 51 Bamber St, Whanganui (H/o Mrs Gladys Phoebe Diggle)
39. DIGGLE Valerie Joyce 2, 51 Bamber St, Whanganui
40. DOOLE Elizabeth Graham 26 - - C/o Baptist Youth Hostel, Boulcott St, Wellington
41. DROWN Alan Maxwell 18 - Clerk 29 Hamilton Road, Hataitai, Wellington
42. EDGECUMBE Patricia Margarita 22 - Clerk 24 Osier Rd, Greenmeadows, Hastings
43. EILERS Ngaire Joyce 27 - - 46 Buckle St, Wellington
44. ELFORD Dianne Laurel 12 (10) Single - 9 Hungerford Road, Wellington
45. ELFORD Evelyn May (Mrs) 49 Married - 31 Cave Road, Houghton Bay, Wellington (or 9 Hungerford Rd, Wellington)
46. ELFORD Robert Charles 59 Married Carpenter 32 Cave Road, Houghton Bay, Wellington (or 9 Hungerford Rd, Wellington)
47. ELSLEY Cecilie Lily 29 Single Typist 8 Fitzherbert Terrace, Wellington
48. ENSOR Mabel Lay 23, Single, Clerk, 12 Anzac Avenue, Morrinsville
49. EVES Roberta Elizabeth (Elizabeth Roberta) 23 - - 48 Seatoun Rd, Kilbirnie, Wellington
50. FITZGERALD Geraldine 6 Single - 269 Riverside Drive, Lower Hutt
51. FITZGERALD Ian Gerald 23 - Tailor's cutter 15 Ariki St, Lower Hutt
52. FITZGERALD John Edward 12 (13) Single - 269 Riverside Drive, Lower Hutt
53. FITZGERALD Veronica Mary Margaret (Mrs) 40 Married - 269 Riverside Drive, Lower Hutt
54. FLAVELL Sydney Walter 59 - Labourer 14 Mudie St, Lower Hutt
55. FOOTE Harold Victor 27, Hatter, 11 Brookside Terrace, Christchurch
56. FOOTE Ian 7, 11 Brookside Terrace, Christchurch
57. GOLDING Heather Edna 29 - - 1 Marsden Ave, Karori, Wellington
58. GOODHUE Frederick Gordon 24 - Clerk Waihou, Waikato (or 48 Waipapa Rd, Wellington)
59. GRAY Te Wheturere James - - - -
60. GRIGOR Sheila 18 Single Typist Fairview Guest House, Church Street, Wellington
61. HALE Eileen Frances (Mrs) 35 Married - 69 Marsden Street, Lower Hutt
62. HALE Robert Joseph 14 Single - 69 Marsden Street, Lower Hutt
63. HALLAM Kathleen Florence 24 - - C/o YWCA, Brougham St, Wellington
64. HAMMOND Ronald Charles 25 - - RNZAF, Shelly Bay, Wellington
65. HANLEY Christina Marie (Mrs) 25 Married - 6 Hyde St, Wainuiomata
66. HANLEY Evelyn 18mnths Single - 6 Hyde St, Wainuiomata
67. HANLEY Robert 29 Married - 6 Hyde St, Wainuiomata
68. HAYLER (HAVLER) John Herbert 27 Single Storeman 89 Jackson Street, Petone
69. HOLLOWAY Frederick Walter 26 - Clerk 34 Garden Road, Wellington
70. HYLANDS Arthur 53 Married Railway Employee 32 Rosewarne St, Christchurch
71. HYLANDS Elizabeth (Mrs) 53 Married - 32 Rosewarne St, Christchurch
72. JOSEPH (JOSEPHS) Stanley Victor 18 Single Labourer 65 Paice Avenue, Sandringham, Auckland
73. KARAM Madeline Bernadette (Madaline Bernadette) 26 (28) Single Clerk 24 Lincoln Road, Springvale, Wellington (or Wanganui?) (17 Beach St, Petone)
74. KEMP Reongaro 35 (23) Single WAAF RNZAF, Shelly Bay, Wellington
75. KENNEDY Suzanne Katherine 26 Single Clerk 19 Ellice St, Wellington
76. KENT Frederick Shipley 65 Married Storeman 24 Seddon Street, Naenae, Wellington
77. KENT Jessie Elizabeth (Mrs) 62 Married - 24 Seddon Street, Naenae, Wellington
78. KUKURUZSNYAK (KUKURUZRNYAK) Balazs (Balaz S) 26 Single Railway Employee 16 Hobson Crescent, Wellington (Railway Settlement, Aotea Quay, Wellington)
79. KURA % Mere - - - -
80. LIGHTFOOT Una Constance 18 Single Railway Employee Girls Hostel, 16 Tinakori Road, Wellington (46 Tinakori Rd, Wellington)
81. LLOYD Barbara Anne 16 Single - 338 College St, Palmerston North
82. LOVE Nerissa Ann 19 Single Typist 57 Compton Crescent, Lower Hutt
83. McFADGEN Gwendoline Dorothy (Mrs) 34 Married - 24 Adelaide St, Petone
84. McGINLEY (McGILNEY) Rae Marie 26 Single Typist 9 Carnot Street, Rotorua
85. McLEOD Gordon Alexander 21 Single Clerk H M Customs, Wellington
86. McMANN Royal Josephine 17 Single - Amesbury House, Palmerston North
87. MILLER Edwina Hilda 27 - Civil servant 26 Tinakori Road, Wellington
88. MILLER Jeanette (Jeanette Neil Johnstone) 32 Single Librarian 81 Kelburn Parade, Wellington
89. MILLER June Mary Mabel 29 Single Typist 81 Kelburn Parade, Wellington
90. MOIR Thomas Rowe Scott 19 Single - 177 Queenwood Rd, Levin
91. MOLEN Phillip James Vander 19 Single Civil servant -
92. MONTEITH Michael Thomas 25 - - C/o State Forest Service, Wellington
93. MOODY Melanie Carol Anne 5 Single - Nursery Road, Masterton
94. MOORE Carol May 18 - Domestic Reservoir Rd, Dunedin
95. MORGAN * Horace Royston 26 - Clerk 34 Garden Road, Wellington
96. MORGAN * John Henry - - - -
97. MURRAY Walter Edward 54 (53) Married - 39 Royal Tce, Dunedin
98. NICHOLLS Eva (Eve) (Lottie Mrs) 45 Married - 117 Russell Street, Palmerston North
99. NICHOLLS Herbert James (James) 13 Single - 9 Hungerford Road, Wellington (117 Russell St, Palmerston North)
100. NICHOLLS Jack Raymond 11 Single - 117 Russell Street, Palmerston North
101. NICHOLLS Paul Alan 9 Single - 117 Russell Street, Palmerston North
102. NICHOLLS Raymond Herbert 45 (50) Married - 117 Russell Street, Palmerston North
103. NIDDRIE Irene Patricia Christine (Mrs) 29 Married - 54 Hill St, Wellington
104. OLIVER Betty 26 (27) Single Student 22 Belle Vue Ave, Northcote, Auckland
105. OLSON Olaf Patrick 33 Married Civil servant Lewis Rd, Lynmore, Rotorua (C/o DSIR Wellington)
106. OSBORN Margaret Elizabeth 18 Single Clerk 3 Bond St, Marton
107. PAPARIKI (RAWERI) Linda 16 Single Factory Worker 31 Randwick Cres, Lower Hutt
108. PARKER Charles John Henry 52 Married Engine Driver 22 Eagle Street, Taihape
109. PARRY Herbert Staveley (Herbert Stanley) 70 Widower - 37 Thorndon Quay, Wellington
110. PERRY Margaret Jean 18 Single Machinist 63 Todman Street, Brooklyn, Wellington
111. POLGAR John 25 - Cargo worker 16 Hobson Crescent, Wellington
112. PORTER Elizabeth Mary (Elizabeth May) 25 - - Boulcott St, Wellington
113. POWICK Josephine Margaret Ellen (Josephine) 20 Single Dressmaker Grove Rd, Blenheim (NOK Mr Charles Thomas Clarence Powick (father), Scotland St, Picton)
114. REARDON Pamela Waveney 20 Single Civil servant Hill View Cres, Taumaranui
115. REDMAN Lancelot (Lance) 33 Married Railway Fireman Robin St, Taihape
116. RHODES Joseph Henry 21 - - C/o Post and Telegraph Hostel, Wellington
117. ROBERTS Shirley Anne 18 Single - 105 Sefton Street, Highland Park, Wellington
118. RUSSELL Jim Leslie 19 Single Carpenter 21 Ashridge Rd, Napier
119. RYAN Leonard Arthur Vivian 24 - Labourer Kaitieke
120. SANDERS Margaret 21 - Telephone operator 31 Hobson St, Wellington
121. SCOTLAND Alexander 53 - Shepherd Flock House, Bulls
122. SCOTT Robert Aitchison 23 - - 290 Church St, Palmerston North
123. SHANDLEY Richard 23, Single, Carpenter, 290 Devonport Road, Tauranga (10 Edward St, Timaru)
124. SHARP Donald William 25 Single Dispenser 7 Wilson Street, Hawera
125. SQUIRE Pearl Jessie 41, 85 King St, Sydenham, Christchurch
126. STEAD Daphne Lily 32, Single, Clerk, Sydney, Australia (Grafton North, NSW, Australia)
127. STEVENS John Edward Lee 29 (20) Single Mail Room Attendant Post and Telegraph Department Hostel, Johnsonville, Wellington
128. STOKES Audrey Mavis 25, 36 Huia Street, Pahiatua
129. STOKES Joseph Charles 67, Married, Joiner, 36 Huia Street, Pahiatua
130. TER HUPPEN Gerrit Willem (Mr) (Gerrit William) 26 Married Optician 3 Fairview Cres, Kelburn, Wellington (15 Upper Lewisville Tce, Wellington)
131. TER HUPPEN Janna Manna (Mrs) 27 Married - 3 Fairview Cres, Kelburn, Wellington (15 Upper Lewisville Tce, Wellington)
132. THOMASS Neil Lewis 18 Single Motor mechanic Hopelands, Woodville
133. THOMASS Paul Garry 13 Single - Hopelands, Woodville
134. THONISSEN (THONNISSEN) Adrianus Hubertus 27 - Railway Employee Gracefield Camp, Lower Hutt
135. TORREY Joyce Ellen 26 - Civil servant 24 Lincoln Road, Wanganui
136. TREVELYAN Janet Mary 21 - Typist 55 Compton Cres, Lower Hutt
137. VAKALALA Aisea Sevutia (Mr) 20 - Student Palmerston North Boys High School
138. WALE Arthur John (Arthur) 32 - - 13 Roy St, Newtown, Wellington
139. WALKER Evelyn Joy 18 Single Dressmaker Comely Bank, Sawyers Bay, Dunedin
140. WALKER Mereana 22 Single Clerk Herd Street Post Office, Wellington
141. WARRILOW Dorothy Alice Eleanor (Mrs) 21 Married - 102 Church St, Masterton
142. WARRILOW Douglas Claude 31 Married Clerk 102 Church St, Masterton
143. WELLINGTON Gordon William 35 - Labourer 19 Perry St, Masterton
144. WELLINGTON Lillian Beatrice (Mrs) 71 Widow - 19 (90) Perry Street, Masterton
145. WHITE Margaret Rose 21 - - C/o Immigration Hostel, Trentham, Wellington
146. WILSON Betty Amy 24 Single Telegraphist 26 Tinakori Road, Wellington
147. WILTON Melva Doreen 16 Single - 12 Matai Street, Masterton
148. WOOD Amelia Agnes (Mrs) 65 Married - 58 Awarua St, Ngaio, Wellington
149. WOOD James 65 Married Sailmaker 58 Awarua St, Ngaio, Wellington
150. WOOD James (Junior) 15 Single - 58 Awarua St, Ngaio, Wellington
151. WORKMAN Doris Edith 41 - - -