Editing Granville rail disaster (section)

==Disaster==
The train involved in the disaster consisted of eight wooden bodied Supplementary Interurban Passenger Carriages, which had been converted from country passenger stock by the PTC, which were hauled by [[New South Wales 46 class locomotive|46 class]] [[electric locomotive]] 4620, which had commenced its journey towards [[Sydney]] from [[Mount Victoria railway station|Mount Victoria]] in the [[Blue Mountains (New South Wales)|Blue Mountains]] at 6:09&nbsp;a.m.<ref name="gran_hist">{{cite web|title=Granville Rail/Train Disaster|url=http://www.granvillehistorical.org.au/granville-history.php|website=Granville History|access-date=6 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528033526/http://www.granvillehistorical.org.au/granville-history.php|archive-date=28 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At approximately 8:10&nbsp;a.m. it was approaching [[Granville railway station]] when the locomotive [[derailment|derailed]] and struck one of the steel-and-concrete pillars supporting the bridge carrying Bold Street over the railway cutting.

The derailed engine and first two carriages passed the bridge, with the first carriage being separated free from the other carriages and torn open when it collided with a severed overhead stanchion from beside the track, killing eight passengers instantly.

The remaining carriages (cars 2 to 8) came to a halt with the second carriage clear of the bridge, and the rear half of the third carriage, along with the forward half of the fourth carriage, coming to rest under the weakened bridge, whose weight was estimated at {{convert|570|t}}.<ref name=railfan>{{cite web|url=http://danger-ahead.railfan.net/accidents/granvill.htm|title=Danger Ahead! Granville, Sydney, Australia (2)|access-date=30 December 2016}}</ref> Carriages 5, 6, 7 and 8 were clear of the bridge at the Harris Park (or country side) of the bridge and were not affected by the incident other than passengers suffering minor injuries or from the shock of being involved in the incident.

Within 15 seconds, with the majority of its supports demolished, the bridge including several motor cars that were driving across at the time, collapsed on top of the carriages, demolishing their wooden bodies and crushing the passengers inside.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Medical Review Seminar Lidcombe Hospital −15&nbsp;February 1977 |publisher=Granville Historical Society |date=24 October 2007 |url=http://www.granvillehistorical.org.au/Granville%20Rail%20Disaster.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031227053530/http://www.granvillehistorical.org.au/Granville%20Rail%20Disaster.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 December 2003 |access-date=20 March 2008  }}</ref>

[[File:Granville Railway Station Disaster Memorial Plaque b.jpg|thumb|left|Memorial plaque commemorating the disaster at Granville station]]
Of the total number of passengers travelling in the third and fourth carriages, half were killed instantly when the bridge fell on them, crushing them in their seats, some to the point where their head and shoulders were below the level of their knees.<ref name=railfan/>

Of the 213 injured, some of the trapped were in the train for hours after the accident, with parts of the bridge, parts of the carriage body, broken carriage seating, or deceased passengers crushing them, hampering rescuers. Some of these injured had been conscious and lucid, talking to rescuers and explaining their experiences of the event, however, most died of [[crush syndrome]] soon after the weight was removed from their bodies.

Rescuers also faced the greater difficulty of the weight of the bridge, which was still crushing the affected carriages and reducing the available space in which they could work in to rescue survivors. At one stage of the rescue, a declaration was made by those in charge that no one was permitted to attempt further rescues until the collapsed bridge had been lifted clear of the site. Soon after however, the bridge settled a further {{convert|2|in|cm|order=flip|sigfig=1}} onto the train, trapping two rescuers and crushing a [[portable generator]] "like butter".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFGKs62Wz5Y| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/sFGKs62Wz5Y| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|title=Granville|year=1977|publisher=Film Australia|access-date=28 October 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Another major danger came from Liquid Petroleum Gas, as LPG cylinders were being kept year-round on board the train to be used in the winters for heating purposes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/television/true-story-of-courage-and-compassion/story-fncnqfdm-1226556331845/
|date= 18 January 2013|title=True story of courage and compassion|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118193007/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/television/true-story-of-courage-and-compassion/story-fncnqfdm-1226556331845|archive-date=18 January 2013}}</ref>

Several of the deceased were overcome by the gas leaking from ruptured cylinders, reducing the amount of available breathable air in the area underneath the bridge. This leaking gas also prevented the immediate use of powered rescue tools such as petrol powered saws and cutting equipment due to the risk of explosion. The [[NSW Fire Brigade]] provided enough ventilation equipment to dispel the gas, as well as a constant mist/film of water, sprayed over the accident site to prevent the possibility of the gas ignition.<ref name=railfan/>

The train driver, the assistant crewman (the "second man"), and the motorists including one motorcyclist<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.bikeme.tv/index.php/a-bridge-too-far-down/| title = A BRIDGE TOO FAR… DOWN – BIKE ME!| date = 2 November 2006}}</ref> driving on the fallen bridge all survived.

The operation lasted from 8:12&nbsp;a.m. Tuesday until 6:00&nbsp;a.m. Thursday. Ultimately, 84 people were killed in the accident, including an unborn child.
{{clear}}