The year was 1953 the night was Christmas eve
many people were rejoicing taking annual leave
the night train from Auckland was going down the line
it was bound for Wellington, everything was fine

It traveled to Waiuru across the desert road
in sight of Mt Ruapehu, it had just dumped its load
one of three Volcanoes, the cater lake had broke
cascading down the mountainside with mud enough to choke

the Tangiwai bridge was in its path, it just copped it all
rails were ripped up from the track and stanchions they did fall
the train was completely unaware, and kept a steady speed
when they saw a man with a lantern, telling them to heed

brakes were applied that instant, but the momentum was to great
it went into the river ,five carriages it was too late!
one hundred and thirty one bodies ,were recovered from the site
twenty are still missing, on that fateful night

today the crater lake is swelling to size that is one par
will the government to owt about it, another disastrous lahar

Poem © Baldric

Graphics © Skyangel