Day 11. It was a very laid back start to the day as we were only travelling 33 kilometres to Waiouru. Along the way we called in to have a look at the Tangiwai Rail Disaster memorial about 8km’s from Waiouru.
This train crash happened on Christmas Eve 1953 with the loss of 151 lives. A lahar from Mt Ruapehu washed out the bridge moments before the train was due to cross causing the disaster.
We recently found out that Dot’s Uncle Bill had been booked to travel on this train but was called back to work at the last minute. His ticket and that of a fellow traveller were passed onto other people. After the disaster he was deemed missing presumed drowned as his name was still on the passenger list and he was unaccounted for. Thankfully this was not the case as he was safely at work.
Arriving in Waiouru we parked around the back of the Army museum and after lunch spent a good 3 hours perusing all the new displays in the museum.
This is a top class facility and a credit to all those involved. From the Maori wars of the 1800’s to modern day it covers all aspects of the military activities NZ has been involved with.
2 comments:
I was in Waiouru at the time the Tangiwai disaster occurred. Dad was commanding Waiouru Army workshops at the time and was heavily involved in the recovery effort. Mum still remembers the special train with the huge white crosses on the louvred vans that took all the unidentified bodies to Karori Cemetery in Wellington where they were buried in a mass grave!
Hi Tom and Jan
Thanks for that info, my memory doesn't go back that far, I was too young. We met a gentleman from the UK there yesterday whose aunt was killed in the accident and she is buried at Foxton.
Dot
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