Epsom Branch Junction Railway Accident

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In the railway accident at Epsom Branch Junction (Raynes Park, Surrey , today London Borough of Merton ) derailed on January 28, 1861. train of the London and South Western Railway in the branching point of the railway line to Epsom in today's railway station Raynes Park . A person died: Queen Victoria's personal physician , Dr. Baly.

Starting position

The express train had left London Waterloo station at 5:11 pm and was on its way to Plymouth . The line was two-pronged . The train consisted of a steam locomotive with a tender , followed by 10 cars : a 2nd class passenger car, two 1st class cars, a brake car , one 1st class car, two 2nd class cars, two 1st class cars and one 2nd class car . Class. Dr. Baly was traveling in one of the front cars, 1st class. At about 5:30 p.m. the train had reached Epsom Branch Junction , where it had to use the switch connections that led to the branching line to Epsom.

the accident

While the train was driving the switch connection, a tire on one of the cars in front broke or came off . This led to the tender and the six following wagons derailing. The four cars in front overturned - still in formation - to the left, some hit the embankment of the branching off route to Epsom. The two following cars, on the other hand, tipped to the right onto the track for journeys in the opposite direction. Dr. Baly was thrown out of an opening door of the car he was traveling in, and then killed by the vehicle that fell on him.

consequences

Victims were in addition to that in the accident who lost their lives Dr. Baly 19 more injured.

The queen was appalled by this death in her immediate vicinity. She expressed the wish that all trains should be given the same security measures as were taken when she herself was en route on the Royal Train . Since this would in fact have led to the extensive cessation of railway operations, the highest wish was simply ignored. This event strengthened the Queen in her lifelong distrust of the dangers of railway operations. For example, the Royal Train was not allowed to travel faster than 40 mph (65 km / h) during the day and no faster than 30 mph (50 km / h) at night. That was certainly still appropriate at the beginning of her reign. Towards the end of her reign, however, these were no longer appropriate speeds for express trains.

See also

literature

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ See here .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ accident report.
  2. ↑ Kingston, p. 21.
  3. ↑ accident report.
  4. ↑ Kingston, p. 21.
  5. ^ Railways Archive.
  6. ↑ Kingston, p. 21.
  7. ↑ Kingston, p. 10.

Coordinates: 51 ° 24 ′ 32.5 "  N , 0 ° 13 ′ 48.3"  W.