TANGIWAI WARNING READY

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31669, 3 May 1968, Page 7

TANGIWAI WARNING READY

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 1. The flood warning pylon eight miles upstream from the Tangiwai rail bridge is being checked before every train crosses this section of the main trunk line. In 1953 a wall of mud and water swept the Tangiwai bridge from under the I Wellington-Auckland express, land 151 persons died. The disaster followed the , build-up of thousands of tons of water in Ruapehu’s crater lake after the outlet became blocked. Scientists fear that the mountain’s week-end eruption could have blocked the channel again. “We are aware of this danger,” the general manager of the Railways Department (Mr I. Thomas) said today. "The warning devise is being checked before every train reaches this section.” Flashing Signals

A railways communication engineer, Mr J. Fraser, said the alarm, installed in 1956, comprised a pylon with electrodes attached which gave the water-level readings. “It would give 30 minutes warning of flood approaching

the bridge. It gives audible and visual warnings at Waiouru railway station and at centralised train control at Ohakune. “Flashing signals have been installed at either end of the bridge in case a train was already past the stations," he said. Before the latest eruption the system was tested once a day, he said.

The Tongarlro National Park chief ranger (Mr J. W. Mazey) said today that the mountain was quiet. He said the level of the lake had almost certainly dropped below the level of the outlet and this was why no outflow was being observed. Asked whether he would send up a team to see whether the outlet had been

blocked by the eruptions, he said: “At this stage it’s too dangerous to go playing around. It’s extremely icy and the lake is still throwing out some fairly solid material.” On Monday two D.S.I.R. scientists reached the lake wearing gas-masks and reported collapsed areas in the ridge above the outlet channel.