Home » Themes » Disaster » Land Transport
"Westlander" & "Western Mail" Rail CrashPrint Page 
The monument commemorates those who were killed when the "Westlander" and the "Western Mail" collided in 1956. It was erected in 2005 and officially unveiled on the 9th December 2006.
Five people died at Wallumbilla near Roma when the passenger train "The Westlander" ploughed head on into the stationary mail train. The Westlander which was heading for Charleville was supposed to go to a loop but ran straight into the front of the steam locomotive forcing it back 50 metres. Another 11 people were injured from the splintered wooden carriages of the mail train. The crew of both locomotives survived and an official inquiry was told that the possible cause was fumes in the Westlander diesel affecting the driver and his offsider. The inquest found that the crew were negligent but not criminally so and no charges were laid.
Newspaper ArticleLocation
| Address: | Warrego Highway, Wallumbilla Heritage Complex, Wallumbilla, 4428 |
|---|---|
| State: | QLD |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -26.586824 Long: 149.188369 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Disaster |
| Sub-Theme: | Land Transport |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 01-December-1956 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 01-December-1956 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Saturday 9th December, 2006 |
|---|
In memory of those who lost their lives in the collision between the "Westlander" and "Western Mail"
December 1st 1956
Erected by Wallumbilla Heritage Association
2005
Carol Bowden
George Ratz
Mary Sewell
Rebecca Smith
Roland Fehlberg
This memorial was unveiled on the 9th December 2006 by Gwen Hammond (nee Sewell)
"A survivor"
