NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES
RATANA (WANGANUI) RAIL ACCIDENT
SATURDAY 26 MARCH 1938
In the early hours of Easter Saturday, 26 March 1938, the "special" passenger excursion train from Wellington to New Plymouth derailed four miles north of Turakina on the Ratana flat. (Today the rail does not follow this route but heads north from Turakina towards Fordell)
At the time the area was covered with haze and banks of fog. The driver of the train, Edward PERCIVAL had not driven this section of track for many years and became dis-orientated. The train ran into a bank of fog and the driver missed a speed restriction board thinking he was further from a "6.4 chain radius curve" (approx 130 metre radius) than he actually was. The driver made a short light application of the brakes but it was not enough and the train entered the curve at an estimated 50mph instead of the recommended 20mph.
The subsequent inquiry found that the driver was a "steady, competent, experienced driver with a first-class record." The excessive speed was found to be "an honest error of judgement to which the presence of haze and fog contributed. The inquiry recommended that speed recorders be installed on all engines used for hauling express, mail and passenger trains.
Seven people died and twelve people were taken to Wanganui Hospital. This official casualty list is from the Wanganui Chronicle of 28 March 1938.
| LEWIS | Ethel Mrs | 50 Years | Of 14 Murphy St Wellington. Leaves a husband and four children. Killed at scene |
| MILLER | Ken | 33 Years | Of 43 Taranaki St, Wellington. Married. Fireman on the train. Died in hospital as a result of his injuries |
| QUINTON | Percy W | 63 Years | Of 59 Ghuznee St Wellington. Died in hospital as a result of his injuries |
| SOLLITT | Zoe Muriel Miss | 21 Years | Resided with her mother at 20 Martin St Palmerston North. Killed at scene |
| STROUD | Leslie Walden | 18 Years | Single of 167 Riddiford St Wellington, son of Mrs J K STROUD of 186 Guyton St, Wanganui. Killed at scene |
| TULLOCH | Hazel Doris (Peggy) Mrs | 24 Years | Of 29 Bay St, Petone. Daughter of Mr & Mrs A T SPURDLE of Bignell St, Wanganui. Died in hospital as a result of her injuries. |
| WEBB | Esma Wilton Mrs | 23 Years | Of 1 Herald St Wellington. Daughter of Mr & Mrs W COSTELLO, Maxwell Ave, Durie Hill, Wanganui. Leaves a husband and 2 children. Killed at scene |
| BATTISON | Elsie Miss | 22 Terrace Garden Wellington | Wound on forehead. Condition satisfactory |
| CARLYLE | Mrs | 11 Picton Ave, Newton Wellington | Cut on head. Condition fair |
| CLARK | Peter | Shannon | 41 years. Shock. Condition not serious |
| DUTTON | Sissy | 16 Parliament St Wellington | Wound on head. Condition not serious |
| ELLIS | Mary | 51 Duncan St Wanganui | Compound fracture of right leg. Condition serious but improving |
| GARDINER | J D | C/o Mrs Falkner, 31 Caius Ave Gonville Wanganui | Broken leg and severe cut above knee. Condition fair |
| HANFORD | Annie Mrs | 198 Tinakori Rd Wellington | Cuts on legs and forehead. Condition satisfactory |
| McKENZIE | Laura | Marine Pde Seatoun Wellington | Bruises on face and shock. Condition satisfactory |
| PAGE | F Mrs | 124 Dixon St Wellington | Extensive bruises on back. Condition fair |
| PERCIVAL | Edward | 66 Sar St Wellington | Driver of the train. Severe burns on arms and upper body. Condition fair |
| SQUIRE | Harold V | 9 Hinau Road Haitaitai Wellington | Injured foot. Not serious |
| WATT | Janet Miss | Ballance St Petone | Injuries to hip and head. Condition fairly serious |
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