Welwyn Garden City rail crash
Encyclopedia
There were two rail crashes near Welwyn Garden City railway station
in Hertfordshire
, England
. One in 1935
and another less serious accident in 1957
.
at night and 14 people were killed and 29 injured.
The accident was a rear collision
caused by a signalman
's error. The signalman at Welwyn Garden City
, who had been fairly recently appointed to the box, became confused and accepted two trains into the same block section. The first (Newcastle) train received a signal
check and was slowed down to 15-20 mph; the Leeds train consisting of 11 coaches hauled by Class K3 2-6-0 No 4009 ran into it at approximately 65 mph.
There were several significant features. Firstly, the modern rolling stock
withstood the violent collision well (apart from the last coach which was totally destroyed); older coaches would have been crushed, with much heavier loss of life. Secondly, the Inspecting Officer felt that the signalman
had been promoted beyond his level of competence for such a busy box, and the assessment and training procedures for signalmen should be improved. Thirdly, he recommended that the block instruments should be linked to the track circuits to prevent future occurrences; this was widely adopted and known as Welwyn Control.
. This accident took place at dawn about half a mile south of the station, and was due to the driver
of an Aberdeen to London express passing signals at danger
in mist
, even failing to notice emergency detonators
set off by the signalman.
The express which was travelling at around 60-65 mph, collided with the rear end of a local train which had just pulled away from the station, and was travelling at around 30-35 mph. The rear coach of the local train was wrecked in the collision and two more were overturned. One passenger in the local train was killed and 25 injured. The locomotive of the express overturned and the driver suffered severe shock.
Welwyn Garden City railway station
Welwyn Garden City railway station serves the town of Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, England. The station is approximately north of London Kings Cross on the East Coast Main Line. Welwyn Garden City station is managed and served by First Capital Connect.-History:A station named Welwyn...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, 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...
. One in 1935
1935 in the United Kingdom
Events from the year 1935 in the United Kingdom. This royal Silver Jubilee year sees a General Election and changes in the leadership of both the Conservative and Labour parties.-Incumbents:*Monarch - King George V...
and another less serious accident in 1957
1957 in the United Kingdom
Events from the year 1957 in the United Kingdom.-Incumbents:* Monarch – Elizabeth II* Prime Minister – Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan, Conservative Party-Events:* 9 January – Resignation of Anthony Eden as Prime Minister due to ill-health....
.
1935 crash
The crash occurred on 15 June 1935. A steam train from London Kings Cross to Leeds collided with a train from Kings Cross to NewcastleNewcastle Central station
Newcastle railway station , is the mainline station of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England and is a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line. It opened in 1850 and is a Grade I listed building...
at night and 14 people were killed and 29 injured.
The accident was a rear collision
Rear-end collision
A rear-end collision is a traffic accident wherein a vehicle crashes into the vehicle in front of it, usually caused by tailgating or panic stops...
caused by a signalman
Signalman (rail)
A signalman or signaller is an employee of a railway transport network who operates the points and signals from a signal box in order to control the movement of trains.- History :...
's error. The signalman at Welwyn Garden City
Welwyn Garden City railway station
Welwyn Garden City railway station serves the town of Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, England. The station is approximately north of London Kings Cross on the East Coast Main Line. Welwyn Garden City station is managed and served by First Capital Connect.-History:A station named Welwyn...
, who had been fairly recently appointed to the box, became confused and accepted two trains into the same block section. The first (Newcastle) train received a signal
Railway signal
A signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line ahead to train/engine drivers. The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly...
check and was slowed down to 15-20 mph; the Leeds train consisting of 11 coaches hauled by Class K3 2-6-0 No 4009 ran into it at approximately 65 mph.
There were several significant features. Firstly, the modern rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
withstood the violent collision well (apart from the last coach which was totally destroyed); older coaches would have been crushed, with much heavier loss of life. Secondly, the Inspecting Officer felt that the signalman
Signalman (rail)
A signalman or signaller is an employee of a railway transport network who operates the points and signals from a signal box in order to control the movement of trains.- History :...
had been promoted beyond his level of competence for such a busy box, and the assessment and training procedures for signalmen should be improved. Thirdly, he recommended that the block instruments should be linked to the track circuits to prevent future occurrences; this was widely adopted and known as Welwyn Control.
1957 crash
A second unrelated accident took place here on 7 January 1957; this was another rear collisionRear-end collision
A rear-end collision is a traffic accident wherein a vehicle crashes into the vehicle in front of it, usually caused by tailgating or panic stops...
. This accident took place at dawn about half a mile south of the station, and was due to the driver
Railroad engineer
A railroad engineer, locomotive engineer, train operator, train driver or engine driver is a person who drives a train on a railroad...
of an Aberdeen to London express passing signals at danger
Signal passed at danger
A Signal passed at danger , in British railway terminology, occurs when a train passes a stop signal without authority to do so. It is a term primarily used within the British Railway Industry, although it can be applied worldwide.-Categories of SPAD:...
in mist
Mist
Mist is a phenomenon of small droplets suspended in air. It can occur as part of natural weather or volcanic activity, and is common in cold air above warmer water, in exhaled air in the cold, and in a steam room of a sauna. It can also be created artificially with aerosol canisters if the...
, even failing to notice emergency detonators
Detonator (railway)
A railway detonator is a device used to make a loud sound as a warning signal to train drivers. The detonator is the size of a large coin with two lead straps, one on each side. The detonator is placed on the top of the rail and the straps are used to secure it...
set off by the signalman.
The express which was travelling at around 60-65 mph, collided with the rear end of a local train which had just pulled away from the station, and was travelling at around 30-35 mph. The rear coach of the local train was wrecked in the collision and two more were overturned. One passenger in the local train was killed and 25 injured. The locomotive of the express overturned and the driver suffered severe shock.