Railway accident in the Clay Cross Tunnel
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In the railway accident in the Clay Cross Tunnel on March 29, 1844, the engine driver of a train died as a result of a rear-end collision. The accident was typical for the railway company at the time, which worked with a backup by time interval.
Starting position
In the Clay Cross Tunnel, the North Midland Railway ran under the village of the same name Clay Cross in Derbyshire . Today the railway tunnel is part of the Midland Main Line . The tunnel is 1,631 meters long, was built by George Stephenson and completed in 1839.
Back then, the track was driven with a time lag. This meant that after a train left the route, the next one was allowed to follow it after a set time. If a train got stuck, someone had to be sent towards the next train to signal that the line was still occupied.
the accident
On March 29, 1844, a train broke down in the Clay Cross Tunnel due to a mechanical defect . The engine driver therefore sent a railroad worker to the next train to warn him. He himself went under the locomotive to fix the technical problem. The railroad worker ran towards the next train with a red lantern. However, the tunnel was so full of smoke from the smoke from the steam locomotive of the first train that the driver of the next train did not see the warning light or saw it too late. In any case, he could not brake in time and there was a rear-end collision . The train in front was also pushed forward a bit, fatally injuring the engine driver working under his locomotive.
See also
literature
- Major General CW Pasley: Accident at Clay Cross Tunnel on March 29th, 1844 [accident report]. Ed. April 2, 1844 by Board of Trade.
Web links
Coordinates: 53 ° 9 ′ 48.9 " N , 1 ° 24 ′ 54.5" W.