Kendal Railway Accident
In the Kendal railway accident, an overcrowded train derailed due to excessive speed on September 1, 1957 near Kendal, Jamaica, after a brake failure . 179 people died.
initial situation
The train took a large group from the Holy Name Society of St. Anne's , a Catholic association, on a day trip from Kingston to Montego Bay that Sunday . The train consisted of two diesel locomotives and 12 wooden passenger cars , each of which had a capacity for 80 passengers . On his way to Montego Bay, he carried 900 travelers, a permissible number. On the way back, however, 1,600 passengers had occupied the train, including hundreds of pickpockets and hooligans who were after the tourists on the train.
the accident
At around 11:30 p.m., near Kendal, near Manchester , the engine driver lost control of the overloaded train: the brakes failed, the train quickly gained speed and derailed three minutes later while driving through a curve. Eight of the twelve wagons were destroyed. The reason for the brake failure was a blocked stopcock on the brake system.
consequences
179 people died and around 700 were injured. This was the worst accident in passenger traffic in the history of Jamaica and was also portrayed as the second worst rail accident in the world at the time , which certainly was not the case even then. The dead were looted on a large scale at the scene of the accident .
British Rail's chief investigator has been asked for assistance with the investigation . It showed that the shut-off cocks were very easy to turn and that there was also the possibility that the coupling might hit them when cornering , which could lead to them becoming misaligned. The investigation also revealed a number of deficiencies at the Jamaica Railway Corporation (JRC), particularly with regard to vehicle maintenance . In 1960 the JRC was given greater independence.
Worth knowing
The railway accident at Washington Union Station , USA in 1953 had an identical cause.
literature
- NN: The rise and fall of railways in Jamaica, 1845-1975 . In: Journal of Transport History (March 2003).
- Peter WB Semmens: Disasters on the rails. A worldwide documentation. Transpress, Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3-344-71030-3 .