Coton Hill rail crash
Encyclopedia
The Coton Hill rail crash was a train crash which occurred on 11 January 1965, at Coton Hill, near Shrewsbury
in Shropshire
, England
.
It happened when a heavily loaded freight train ran out of control on the 1 in 100 Hencote incline, and was derailed on a set of trap points, eventually demolishing a signal box
. The signalman on duty was killed, and the driver of the train seriously injured.
to Pontypool Road
freight train, formed of a Class 47 diesel locomotive
with 46 wagons, weighing a total of 775 tons, was approaching Coton Hill. At the top of the Hencote downhill gradient, freight trains of Class 5 (modern equivalent Class 7) such as this one were required to obey a stop sign, but the train passed the sign and entered the Coton Hill goods loop at speed.
Despite emergency brake applications being made, the train eventually derailed on the trap points at the exit of the goods yard and continued for a further 70 yards before finally crashing into the Coton Hill South signal box, destroying it completely. The first 11 wagons followed the locomotive, but the destruction of the signal box opened a set of points which sent 24 further wagons into a siding, where they derailed and some collided with a second Class 47 diesel which was waiting to leave the yard. The destruction was widespread and the cleanup operation was further hampered by hydrochloric acid
leaking from a damaged wagon. Normal service was not restored until 14 January.
inquiry found that, due to the damage caused to the locomotive and train (the locomotive was later scrapped, despite being only 8 months old), it was impossible to ascertain whether a brake failure had impaired the driver's ability to stop the train. However, the driver was found to be responsible for the accident, as had he stopped at the top of the incline, as was required, he would have been able to stop the train even if a brake failure had occurred. The driver did not have any recollection of the accident, and it was thought logical that he had assumed that the points were set for the main line and not the goods loop.
When the locomotive was being broken up some months later, it was found that its Automatic Warning System
(AWS) equipment had been isolated, despite appearing to be in working order. The driver would therefore have had no warning that the points were set for the goods loop ahead, though given the failure to stop, this would probably not have prevented the accident.
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
It happened when a heavily loaded freight train ran out of control on the 1 in 100 Hencote incline, and was derailed on a set of trap points, eventually demolishing a signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
. The signalman on duty was killed, and the driver of the train seriously injured.
The accident
At approximately 05.50, the 03:56 SaltneySaltney
Saltney is a small town in Flintshire, Wales. It is immediately to the west of the border with Cheshire in England and is contiguous with the Chester urban area.The name is derived from the former salt marshes on which it is built, lying on the River Dee...
to Pontypool Road
Pontypool and New Inn railway station
Pontypool and New Inn railway station is situated to the south east of Pontypool town centre between the town and the suburb of New Inn.It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail and is operated by Arriva Trains Wales...
freight train, formed of a Class 47 diesel locomotive
British Rail Class 47
The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British...
with 46 wagons, weighing a total of 775 tons, was approaching Coton Hill. At the top of the Hencote downhill gradient, freight trains of Class 5 (modern equivalent Class 7) such as this one were required to obey a stop sign, but the train passed the sign and entered the Coton Hill goods loop at speed.
Despite emergency brake applications being made, the train eventually derailed on the trap points at the exit of the goods yard and continued for a further 70 yards before finally crashing into the Coton Hill South signal box, destroying it completely. The first 11 wagons followed the locomotive, but the destruction of the signal box opened a set of points which sent 24 further wagons into a siding, where they derailed and some collided with a second Class 47 diesel which was waiting to leave the yard. The destruction was widespread and the cleanup operation was further hampered by hydrochloric acid
Hydrochloric acid
Hydrochloric acid is a solution of hydrogen chloride in water, that is a highly corrosive, strong mineral acid with many industrial uses. It is found naturally in gastric acid....
leaking from a damaged wagon. Normal service was not restored until 14 January.
The inquiry
The Department of TransportDepartment for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
inquiry found that, due to the damage caused to the locomotive and train (the locomotive was later scrapped, despite being only 8 months old), it was impossible to ascertain whether a brake failure had impaired the driver's ability to stop the train. However, the driver was found to be responsible for the accident, as had he stopped at the top of the incline, as was required, he would have been able to stop the train even if a brake failure had occurred. The driver did not have any recollection of the accident, and it was thought logical that he had assumed that the points were set for the main line and not the goods loop.
When the locomotive was being broken up some months later, it was found that its Automatic Warning System
Automatic Warning System
The Automatic Warning System is a form of limited cab signalling and train protection system introduced in 1956 in the United Kingdom to help train drivers observe and obey signals. It was based on a 1930 system developed by Alfred Ernest Hudd and marketed as the "Strowger-Hudd" system...
(AWS) equipment had been isolated, despite appearing to be in working order. The driver would therefore have had no warning that the points were set for the goods loop ahead, though given the failure to stop, this would probably not have prevented the accident.
See also
- Shrewsbury rail accidentShrewsbury rail accidentThe Shrewsbury rail accident occurred on 15 October 1907. An overnight sleeping-car and mail train from Manchester to the West of England derailed on the sharply curved approach to Shrewsbury station, killing 18. Speed was estimated at 60 mph on a curve limited to 10...
- happened in 1907 a few hundred metres south of Coton Hill.