NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES
RIMUTAKA INCLINE RAIL ACCIDENT
SATURDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 1880

On Saturday 11 September 1880 a small train left Greytown at 8.30am bound for Wellington. At Cross Creek, at the foot of the Rimutaka Ranges, a Fell Engine was added to the train to push it up the 2 ½ mile 1 in 15 ascent to the summit of the Rimutaka Incline.

The Fell system has a centre-rail between the running tracks and the engine grips on to this to enable traction to climb steep gradients. The incline closed in October 1955 and trains from Wellington and the Wairarapa now go by the Rimutaka tunnel. For further information see THE FELL ENGINE AND THE RIMUTAKA INCLINE - Linked.

At Cross Creek the two passenger cars and the luggage carriage were put in front of the engine. Then behind this were two wagons of timber and lastly the Fell brake engine.

All went well until the train reached an area of the incline known as Siberia. A strong North West wind was blowing across the track. A terrific gust hit the carriages and they were blown off the railway line. Although the couplings held and the weight of the engine prevented the carriages from rolling into the valley below, the body of the first carriage was torn from its mountings and the passengers were thrown on to the hillside.

Three children were killed instantly and there were many injuries — some horrific. One of the injured, Stanley George Nicholas, aged 5 years, died later from injuries received.

The inquest found that the deaths were accidental, caused by the carriages being blown off the line, and no blame was attached to anyone. In fact the grip of the engine on the centre-rail saved the whole train from total destruction and more loss of life.

At the request of the jury breakwinds were erected at Siberia and at other places on the line which were prone to excess wind. (In October 1936 a railcar travelling between Featherston and Pigeon Bush was blown off the rails just before reaching a large section of breakwind. There were no fatalities).

Thanks to Adele Pentony Graham for her help with this.

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