Winsford Railway Accident (1962)

The Winsford railway accident on December 26, 1962 was a rear-end collision between an express train and another express train south of Winsford Station on the West Coast Main Line at Coppenhall Junction . 18 people died.

Starting position

That evening it was very cold and snow fell. Two trains were traveling in a row on the route between Winsford and Crewe : in advance the fast train at 4:45 p.m. from Liverpool to Birmingham . It was pulled by an electric locomotive and consisted of 8 passenger coaches with 300 passengers . Due to the cold weather and the snow, points malfunctioned in Crewe, so that the train had to stop.

The first train was followed by the Midday Scot express train from Glasgow Central at 1.30 p.m. to London Euston . The train was supported by a diesel locomotive of the series 40 drawn and led 13 cars in which 500 travelers were.

the accident

The railway signal covering the train in front showed "stop". The engine driver of the Glasgow train stopped there and went to the corresponding line telephone to inquire about the cause of the signal showing "stop". However, the track phone was broken. However, he could already see the next signal and decided to move the train there ahead to use the local line telephone to establish contact with the next signal box . What he did not see at first and then too late was the train from Liverpool in front of it. He hit him at around 18:01 p.m. at about 30 km / h. The last wagons of the stationary train were crushed by the approaching locomotive of the Glasgow train.

consequences

18 people died and 34 others were injured.

See also

• List of rail accidents in the UK

literature

• Hamilton, JA B: British Railway Accidents of the Twentieth Century . London 1967.
• LTC Rolt : Red for Danger . Pan Books 1976, chapter 12.
• Ministry of Transport (ed.), D. McMullen: Report on the Collision that occurred on 26th December 1962 between Winsford Station and Coppenhall Junction in the London Midland Region of British Railways ( PDF ; 1.1 MB). London 1963.

Coordinates: 53 ° 9 ′ 55.7 "  N , 2 ° 28 ′ 35.5"  W.