Disc 1. Lionel Sceats describes the scene of the Tangiwai Rail disaster.
[Track 1 : false start]
Disc 2. Lionel Sceats records a message, Levels Test 1. “Hello, hello” (includes office background noise), Levels Test 2. (office background noise); Interview with Mr W. J. Anderson of Wellington, a passenger in carriage ‘Z’, the first carriage on the train shares his experience of the crash; Interview with an unidentified local man who was one of the first on the scene: requested by police to seek help from Waiōuru Military Camp, describes the scene of the crash and the difficulty the rising Whangaehu river and darkness presented the rescue.
Disc 3. List of people reported to be safe and nine people on the mend at Raetihi Hospital, read by Lionel Sceats.
Disc 4. Part 1 of 2. The Prime Minister Right Hon. Mr Sidney Holland makes an interim report from Waiouru Camp. [intermittent telephone line interference through the first half of the recording.] He gives a description of the swollen river, bridge damage, number of surviving passengers, number of injured in hospital, number of bodies recovered, number of persons unaccounted for and that large search parties are operating and explains the difficulties they have encountered.
Disc 5. Part 2 of 2. Prime Minister concludes , “I know this terrible disaster will shock all New Zealand and on behalf of the government and myself I wish to express profound sympathy…” and provides a list of people in hospital. Studio announcer introduces the Leader of Opposition, the Right Hon. Walter Nash who speaks from Auckland. Studio announcer reads a list of names provided by the police accounting for those who are safe.
Disc 6. [3906] Broadcast on 26/12/1953 lists the dead and ends with a list of “additional people that are safe”.
Disc 7. [3910] Second list of victims, then the first list is repeated and ends with the list of “additional people that are safe”.
Disc 8. [3913] Third list of victims, followed by an address by the Right Hon. Prime Minister, Mr S. Holland. Praise is given to the work of all involved in the rescue and figures accounting for bodies recovered, identified and unidentified, missing and known to be safe. The probable casualty list is at 166. Unidentified bodies are being moved to Wellington where further identification will take place and a request that anybody who left the train prior to the accident and used private transport should be in touch with their nearest police station.
Disc 9. [3918] Broadcast on 27/12/1953 provides the fourth list of victims and reiterated statements, that unidentified bodies are being moved to Wellington for identification and anybody who left the train and used private transport prior to the accident should be in touch with their nearest police station. The Bailey bridge is completed and expected to be open to traffic soon.
A debrief by announcer; this announcement is to follow the next list of names provided by Mr Nixon and to be read as the fifth and sixth lists at the end of the announcement. All remaining unidentified bodies and all bodies recovered from now on are being sent to Wellington and any persons who left the train prior to the accident and took private transport should advise their nearest police station.
Disc 10. [3929] Broadcast on 28/12/1953 provides the seventh list of victims.
Disc 11. Part 1 of 2. [3958] Unidentified announcer introduces the funeral held at Karori Lawn Cemetery, Wellington for the unidentified victims of the Tangiwai Railway Disaster arranged by the New Zealand Interchurch Council of Public Affairs on 31/12/1953. The funeral is attended by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament, representatives of the Wellington Emergency Committee, the Mayor and city councillors. The first service is conducted by the Rev. G.H. Goodman, Chairman of the Interchurch Council and the Archbishop of New Zealand the Right Rev. R.H. Owen, the lesson read by Lieutenant Commissioner R.H. Haggard, Territorial Commander of the Salvation Army in New Zealand.
Disc 12. Part 2 of 2. [3958] The second service is conducted by the Rev. P.D.B. McKeefry and Arch Bishop of Wellington, assisted by the Rev. fathers B.E. Totman and D.H. Ward.
Disc 13. [4103]The BBC Pacific Service broadcasts the service for the Tangiwai Railway Disaster unidentified victims on 09/01/1954. The service is conducted by the Dean of Westminster, Alan Campbell Don and held in Westminster Abbey, London 24/12/1953. The service begins with the hymn, ‘O God Our Help in Ages Past’.
Disc 14. Part 1 of 2. Tangiwai Memorial Dedication, 26/03/1957. Reporter describes setting, memorial and memorial tablet (Swedish ebony granite with 151 names). The first speaker, the Minister of Railways, the Hon. J.K. McAlpine expresses sorrow, Railways Department have taken every precaution that such an accident will never happen again. Prayer read by Rev J. Baird, the Vice President of National Council of Churches and the first half of an address by the Prime Minister, Right Hon. S.G. Holland.
Disc 14. Part 2 of 2. Tangiwai Memorial Dedication, 26/03/1957. The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. S.G. Holland continues his address, an address by the Leader of the Opposition, the Right Hon. W. Nash, the memorial tablet is unveiled by Prime Minister, the Rev. J. Baird then dedicates the memorial. Music is played by the Wellington Citadel Salvation Army Band, Bandmaster is Mr B.H. Parkinson.