The Day of the Roses

This is a very good TV mini series. Made in two parts, focusing on the coronial inquest & the events on the day of the derailment.

A tragically true tale of what can happen because of penny pinching, incompetence & political opportunism.

Good acting by the large ensemble cast & good production values, not just by a telemovie status, but by general production values.

This is a very powerful documentary uncovering the events leading up to, during and following the Granville train disaster. I remember watching with horror the events on the television at the time, and although many other disasters have happened in Australia, and around the world since then, for many Sydneysiders it will remain one of the worst accidents in living memory. The movie, using the inquest as a focal point, is extremely well made, and very moving. The acting is sensitive and restrained, Rebecca Gibney, in particular, showing amazing depth of emotion. There are no big stars in this movie. It doesn't need them. The movie is essentially about the people whose lives were affected, and they are portrayed with humanity and empathy.

I remember the day that this tragic event occurred and I remember also the publicity that followed about racing trains and poor tracks and worn out wheels which of course contributed to the accident. This movie would have to be the best re-creation of it that I could have ever imagined. I was absolutely fascinated by the accuracy of everything. How they re-created the train wreck under the bridge will forever keep me guessing how it was done. I don't care what anyone says, this was how it happened and how the truth emerged according to my memory. I also remember the stories of the characters as they were enduring in the wreck too. Courage and bravery were awash. The people involved really existed. Watching the events unfold is like watching a who dun nit as we learn of the shortcuts which cost so many lives. This is well worth seeing for anyone at all. It's really compelling stuff. Don't miss it.

"The Day Of The Roses", the story about the 1972 Granville Train Crash which killed eighty-three people and its effects on the people around it, is an epic Australian mini-series which I thought was like the Australian version of Titanic. Time is always running out for the victims and their rescuers and sometimes, there is nothing they can do. It was filmed in my home of Brisbane and I could recognise some of the places filmed, which made it seem more real. The interwoven subplots each character is dealing with become even more serious when loved ones are lost and there is pain surrounding them. This is a brilliant mini-series and if you loved the epic of Titanic, The Day Of The Roses will touch your heart as well.

Looks like it was filmed on the day considering it was made 21 yrs after the terrible disaster......now available to watch on You Tube