| Granville rail disaster | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Details | |
| Date | 18 January 1977 |
| Time | 8.10am |
| Location | Granville, New South Wales |
| 19.06 km (11.8 mi) WNW from Sydney | |
| Country | Australia |
| Rail line | Western railway line |
| Operator | New South Wales Public Transport Commission |
| Type of incident | Derailment |
| Cause | Poor track condition and worn wheels on front of the locomotive |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Deaths | 83 |
| Injuries | 210 |
The Granville rail disaster occurred on 18 January 1977 at Granville, a suburb in Western Sydney, the state capital of New South Wales, Australia, when a crowded commuter train derailed, running into the supports of a road bridge which came down onto two of its passenger carriages. Eighty-three people died, more than 210 were injured and 1,300 were affected.
It is the worst rail disaster in Australian history based on loss of life, and ranks high in terms of general events based on loss of life. To this day, the Blue Mountains community bears the scars of the crash.
Contents |
The crowded 6:09 am Sydney-bound commuter train from Mount Victoria, in the Blue Mountains, was approaching Granville railway station when it left the rails at approximately 8:10 am and hit a row of supports of the overhead Bold Street bridge, constructed from steel and concrete.
The derailed engine and first two carriages passed the bridge; the first carriage broke free from the other carriages and was torn open when it collided with a pole beside the track. The remaining carriages ground to a halt, with the second carriage clear of the bridge. The rear half of the third carriage, and forward half of the fourth carriage came to rest under the weakened bridge. Within seconds, with all its supports demolished, the bridge and several motor cars on top of it crashed onto carriages, crushing them and the passengers inside.[1]
The passengers killed were in the first, third and fourth carriages. Many of those who died were killed instantly when the bridge crushed them in their seats; Some of the survivors in the crushed carriages saw those killed one seat ahead. Some of the injured were trapped in the train for hours after the accident by part of the bridge crushing a limb or torso. Some were conscious and lucid, talking to rescuers, but died of crush syndrome soon after the weight was removed from their bodies due to the sudden release of muscle myoglobins having built up in the limb, causing renal failure. This resulted in changes to rescue procedures for these kinds of accidents. The train driver, second man, and the motorists driving on the bridge all survived.
The bridge was rebuilt as a single span without any intermediate support piers. Other bridges similar to the destroyed bridge had their piers reinforced.
The inquiry into the accident found that the primary cause of the crash was "the very unsatisfactory condition of the permanent way", being the poor fastening of the track, causing the track to spread and allowing the left front wheel of the locomotive to come off the rail. How this happened was related to the high turnover of staff combined with a lack of standard procedures for track inspections. The posted limit for the track was not shown to be too high, provided appropriate track inspection and maintenance was occurring.
The disaster triggered substantial increases in rail maintenance expenditure.
The Granville Memorial Trust was established in the wake of the accident to commemorate the victims and campaign for improvements to rail safety.
The Trust organises an annual memorial service on the anniversary of the crash. Families and friends of the victims gather with surviving members of the rescue crews in a march through Granville to the Bold Street bridge where the accident occurred.[2] The ceremony ends with the throwing of 83 roses on to the tracks to mark the number of passengers killed.[3] In 2007, a plaque was placed atop the bridge to mark the efforts of railway workers who assisted in rescuing survivors from the train.[3]
Trust members also make submissions on rail safety issues, including recommending that fines for safety breaches be dedicated to rail safety improvements,[4] and campaigning for the establishment of an independent railway safety ombudsman.[5]
An Australian telemovie made in 1998, The Day of the Roses, follows the coronial investigation into the incident. More than two years of intensive research was undertaken to chronicle the historical events that led to what was then Australia's worst peace time disaster.
Hearing of this work just a few weeks before his death from bowel cancer in 1996, and unsolicited, Coroner Tom Weir telephoned one of the writers of the original film manuscript. He confirmed his conversation in a subsequent four page letter to the writers. In that telephone conversation and letter Weir detailed the cover-up, conspiracy and how key players at the time tried to subvert the course of justice. The original of this letter is still held by the writers of the manuscript and a copy is also held by the films' producers. Weir didn’t live to see the telemovie. The official government document detailing the internal inquiry at the time was classified, and as such did not see the light of day for almost 20 years. It further clarifies and confirms the extent of the cover-up. Copies of this document are also held by the original writers and the film producers.
The telemovie focussed on the disasters' real cause, several victims, the rescuers, other people who assisted victims, and the ongoing annual ceremony of dropping roses from the current bridge site onto the rail lines.
The cast included Paul Mercurio, Rebecca Gibney, Carol Burns.
Coordinates: 33°49′54″S 151°00′37″E / 33.8316°S 151.0102°E
   | Danger Ahead - Danger Ahead! Granville, Sydney, Australia (2) |
| | The Granville Historical Society - New Page 1 |
| | Documentary on the Granville Train Disaster (video) - Granville Train Disaster Documentary (c) 2002 HotGrill Productions |
| | Day of the Roses - The Day of the Roses (1998) (TV) |
| | Granville victims remembered - Granville victims remembered - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |
| | Granville memorial organisers forced to beg - Granville memorial organisers forced to beg | The Daily Telegraph |
| | Rail safety election vow by Brogden - Print Article: Rail safety election vow by Brogden |
| | Waterfall disaster fine low: opposition - Waterfall safety changes 'still to come' |
|
|
Wikis
Search
