Honour for heroes of Tangiwai rail disaster

Heritage Minister Maggie Barry will be at Tangiwai on May 7 for the unveiling of two plaques recording the bravery of the train driver and the fireman in the 1953 Christmas Eve rail disaster.

She is due to officiate at the ceremony at the site of the rail disaster on the banks of the Whangaehu River.

The roles of the two crew in trying to stop the train before it pitched into the river has not been officially acknowledged before.

As well as the minister and family members of the men who lost their lives in the disaster, steam trains will be at Tangiwai for the commemoration.

KiwiRail, Mainline Steam and the Rail Enthusiasts Society are running a return steam engine service from Auckland to Tangiwai, leaving on Saturday, and another from Palmerston North leaving on the Sunday for those interested in attending the event.

For more information or to book tickets please visit the Rail Society's website at www.gvr.co.nz or call 0800 472 453.

Close to 60 family members of both men including children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren will arrive at Tangiwai aboard two steam trains, one from Glenbrook in South Auckland and the other leaving from Palmerston North.

Sixty three years ago the men and 151 passengers lost their lives when the Wellington-Auckland Limited Express plunged from the bridge into the lahar-flooded Whangaehu River at Tangiwai, 10km west of Waiouru.

The actions of train driver Charles Parker and fireman Lance Redman from Taihape helped save 130 passengers.

As they approached the bridge they pulled on every brake possible, saving three carriages and 130 people from plunging into the torrential river.

Both died in the accident which happened after a lahar from Mt Ruapehu undermined the bridge. The Express was travelling that night at approximately 65km/h and locomotive Ka 949 and its train of nine carriages and two vans reached the severely weakened bridge at 10.21 p.m.

As the bridge buckled beneath its weight, the engine plunged into the river, taking all five second-class carriages with it.

The force of the torrent destroyed four of these carriages - those inside had little chance of survival. One first class carriage also went into the water.

The two plaques of honour have been organised by the Ruapehu Lions who also had the names of all those died who died written the memorial at Tangiwai.