In 1977 the bold street overpass was the site of australias worst train disaster. Granville train disaster 1977 devastating disasters. What caused the train to derail and why is it known as one of the most devastating train crashes in australia. The 32nd anniversary of the granville train disaster. The granville train disaster still holds the dubious distinction of being the worst rail accident in australia. A mothers grief is the tragic tale of june ollerenshaws life. Dec 17, 2016 a survivor of the 1977 granville train disaster speaks of her bond with her rescuer, the man who she says could feel my pulse when everything else was cold. A reexamination of the factual data which until now, has never been questioned.
Granville train disaster 1977 leave a comment transport by devastating it was a morning much like any tuesday in new south wales until disaster struck a packed eightcar commuter train from mount victoria in the blue mountains as it approached the suburb of granville, 22 km 14 mi west of sydney in january 1977. The granville rail disaster occurred on 18 january 1977 in the sydney suburb of granville, australia, when a crowded commuter train travelling from the blue mountains to sydney central derailed, running into the supports of a road bridge which came down onto two of its passenger carriages. The incident took place in the year 1977, dated the 18 th of january. See more ideas about train, sydney city and i survived.
He has spent decades offering support to people affected by the disaster and has written two books, the second book, revisiting the granville. Feb 10, 2017 granville train disaster 40th anniversary service 2017 barry james. Granville train disaster 18 january 1977 lists trove. I have sat down not just to write, but to research and collate datastories for this book, knowing many years have passed, and many tears have fallen, just like the eightythree roses thrown from the bridge each year. Reexamining the factual data which until now has never been questioned. The worst rail disaster in australias history occurred on 18 january 1977 when a packed commuter train ran off the rails and slammed into a road overbridge at granville in sydneys west. The granville rail disaster occurred on 18 january 1977 in the sydney suburb of granville, australia, when a crowded commuter train travelling from the. The granville railtrain disaster occurred on tuesday 18 january 1977 at granville, new south wales, a western suburb of sydney, when a crowded commuter train derailed, running into the supports of a road bridge that collapsed onto two of the trains passenger carriages. The story of the granville train disaster certainly took on new meaning reading about. Jun 05, 2012 retired police rescue officer reflects on the granville train disaster duration. The granville rail train disaster occurred on tuesday 18 january 1977 at granville, new south wales, a western suburb of sydney, when a crowded commuter train derailed, running into the supports of a road bridge that collapsed onto two of the train s passenger carriages. The locomotive that hauled 83 passengers to their death in the granville rail disaster had a defective wheel that the nsw government knew about and later covered up, according to the author of a. Granville rail disasters 40year anniversary photos blue.
The granville train disaster memoriam foundation, baulkham hills, 2012, softcover, new, 1st, 21 x 29. Jan 18, 2010 from a personal perspective the granville rail disaster will forever be seared into my memory and should never be forgotten. Behavioural observations on the granville train disaster and the. Granville train disaster 18 january 1977 documentary andrew. Further, they concluded, the flange on the leading wheels of the locomotive had been worn down. Dec 14, 20 the 32nd anniversary of the granville train disaster. Tragically disaster struck junes life on january 18th 1977 in the form of the granville train disaster. Granville train disaster support group posts facebook. After 30 years he still has vivid memories of the day.
The granville rail train disaster occurred on tuesday 18 january 1977 at granville, new south wales, a western suburb of sydney, when a crowded commuter train derailed, running into the supports of a road bridge that collapsed onto two of the trains passenger carriages. The train crash incident which has been selected in the current essay is the granville rail disaster which is one of the worst train mishaps in the history of australia. Cathy and lyndy 19 and 18 years old respectively were both killed in the crash shattering junes life and leaving her with noone to help pick up the pieces. The archival collection used for this research is the trove newspapers 19261995.
Image blue mountains city library image caption australias granville train disaster killed 83 people in 1977 wednesday marks 40 years since a sydney train derailed in a deadly accident. Forty years on, granville train disaster survivors, victims families remember by matt osullivan updated january 18, 2017 9. Author of 35 years of memories and the second edition retitled revisiting the granville train disaster of 1977. Feb 09, 2015 granvilles other significant railway story is one of tragedy. On january 18, 1977, a crowded train derailed and crashed into the bold street bridge at. Previously, a reference to this disaster was visit link this has been subsequently changed to that of the historians website. Staterail 1990 news footage of cowan rail disaster duration. Another photo coloured one of the skeleton of the electric locomotive involved in the crash. The granville train disaster support group provides empathic emotional support to persons affected by the 1977 granville tragedy via the fellowship.
Granville train disaster 40th anniversary service 2017 youtube. Revisiting the granville train disaster of 1977 was authored by barry gobbe and published in 2015. Jan 14, 2017 in an exclusive interview with abc news in the leadup to the 40th anniversary of the granville train disaster on january 18, transport minister andrew constance said. Barry j gobe was the first ambulance officer on the scene at the granville train disaster on january 18, 1977. Oam for granville train disaster paramedic news local. On january 18, 1977, a crowded train derailed and crashed into the bold street bridge at granville. Jan 18, 2017 granville train disaster emergency workers.
Title, revisiting the granville train disaster of 1977. Granville train disaster 4 rescue a massive team effort the canberra times act. Jan 17, 2017 the locomotive that hauled 83 passengers to their death in the granville rail disaster had a defective wheel that the nsw government knew about and later covered up, according to the author of a. The bridge collapsed onto the train killing 83 of the passengers and injuring more than 200 others. Jan 17, 2017 image blue mountains city library image caption australias granville train disaster killed 83 people in 1977 wednesday marks 40 years since a sydney train derailed in a deadly accident. Stories were compiled and the book, 35 years of memories, was written and self published by barry gobbe with the financial assistance of survivors and rescuers. It remains the worst rail disaster in australian history and the greatest. Granville train disaster support group january 18, 2018 a lovely 41st memorial yesterday to pay our respects to the 84 passengers whom tragically passed away on the 18th of january, 1977 as a result of the events that occurred at granville train station at approx 0810hrs. The granville rail disaster occurred on tuesday 18 january 1977 at granville, a western suburb of sydney, australia, when a crowded commuter train derailed, running into the supports of a road bridge that collapsed onto two of the trains passenger carriages. He went to the second carriage and found a seat about a third of the way down. Stories were compiled and the book, 35 years of memories, was written and selfpublished by barry gobbe with the financial assistance of survivors and rescuers.
Australias worst rail disaster took only seconds to happen but was a decade or more in the making. The bridge collapsed and killed 83 passengers and injuring more than 232. Granville train disaster support group home facebook. Forty years on, granville train disaster survivors, victims. Chilling news report from 1977 granville disaster 2gb. Granville train disaster survivors 40year friendship with. The granville railtrain disaster occurred on tuesday 18 january 1977 at granville, new south wales, a western suburb of sydney, when a crowded commuter. Granville rail disasters 40year anniversary photos. Photos of the granville train crash from some books of the time. It shows the collapsed bridge, derailed train carriages, the emergency personnel that responded and some of the techniques they were using to rescue any survivors. What i know about the granville train disaster insight blogs. Wikipedia citation please see wikipedias template documentation for further citation fields that may be required. It has been dubbed the darkest day in australias railway history. Browse the worlds largest ebookstore and start reading today on the web, tablet, phone, or ereader.
Raphaelthe granville train disaster, psychological needs and their management. Links below to articles on the premier and about the train crash. On the 18th january 1977, the granville train disaster became a part of international history. A single rose lies above the train tracks at the site of the granville train disaster.
In total, 83 people were killed and more than 200 injured in the disaster. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more. On a suburban line, during morning commuter rush hour, poor track maintenance contributed to the train derailing and smashing into a pylon, causing a road bridge to collapse on several carriages. The new book reexams all the data and exposes what was not made public at the time which may have had a great bearing on the outcome of many lives. Last year, on the 40th anniversary of the tragedy, nsw premier gladys berejiklian and.
The sydneybound train had departed from mount victoria station in the blue mountains. Granville train disaster railway disaster sites on. Granville historical society, 2006 disasters 149 pages. Jul 02, 2009 in january 2015, barry gobbe released a greatly amplified version of the 35 years of memories under the title revisiting the granville train disaster of 1977. Eightythree people died, more than 210 were injured and 1,300 were affected. Granvilles other significant railway story is one of tragedy. On january 18th, 1977, a crowded commuter train heading for sydney, derailed hitting a stanchion of the granville bridge.
This source contains several images of the granville train disaster from an aerial perspective. As it approached the suburb of granville, the train left the rails and smashed into the pillars supporting the road bridge above. It remains the worst rail disaster in australian history and the greatest loss of life in a confined area postwar. Neville wran was the state premier from 1976 to 1986.
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