1947 Doncaster rail crash

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1947 Doncaster rail crash
Details
Date9 August 1947
Location Doncaster railway station
156 mi (251 km) N from London
CountryEngland
Line East Coast Main Line
Operator London & North Eastern Railway
CauseSignalman's error
Statistics
Trains2
Passengers1,400 (estimated) [1]
Deaths18
Injured188
List of UK rail accidents by year

The 1947 Doncaster rail crash was a fatal rail incident that occurred just south of Doncaster station at Bridge Junction. A train was signalled onto an occupied line and the ensuing collision resulted in 18 deaths and 188 injuries. Both trains and signalling were operated by the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER).

Contents

Accident

At 4:41 pm on 9 August 1947, the 1:25 pm King's Cross to Leeds train (14 coaches) ran into the back of the 1:10 pm King's Cross to Leeds train (12 coaches) between Balby Junction signal box and Bridge Junction. [2] The site was approximately 0.75 miles (1.21 km) south of Doncaster station [3] and in the same area as the rail crash of 1951. [4] The last three coaches of the first train were almost completely destroyed [5] by the (estimated) 40-mile-per-hour (64 km/h) crash [6] when the leading locomotive of the 1:25 pm, a Gresley V2, crashed into the rear of the preceding train. 700 people were aboard the two trains with casualties amounting to 18 dead and 188 injured [4] (51 were taken to hospital). Local people came to assist where they could, and their efforts were acknowledged by the LNER. [7]

Cause

The first train had been brought to a stand at a red signal near to Bridge Junction, and was just starting away when the collision occurred. [6] The second train was incorrectly signalled into the section, resulting in a rear-end collision. It was later determined by the inquiry that neither of the drivers were to blame; it was the signalman at Balby signal box (J W McKone) who had accepted the second express into the section before clearing the first stationary train, [5] even though it was within his sight from the box and was only 177 yards (162 m) away. [8] Traffic had been described as "heavy for a Saturday, but not excessive". [9]

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References

  1. Mount & Langley 1947, p. 3.
  2. Aiton Kay, John, ed. (July 1948). "Bridge Junction accident, LNER". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 94, no. 576. London: The Railway Publishing Company. p. 272. ISSN   0033-8923.
  3. Mount & Langley 1947, p. 4.
  4. 1 2 Burke, Darren (16 March 2016). "ON THIS DAY: 14 dead, 12 injured in Doncaster train crash horror". Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 Hall, Stanley (1997). "2 - East Coast Main Line". Railway accidents (1 ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 72–73. ISBN   0-7110-2549-5.
  6. 1 2 Mount & Langley 1947, p. 8.
  7. "1947 Rail Disaster". Doncaster History. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  8. Mount & Langley 1947, p. 7.
  9. Mount & Langley 1947, p. 6.

Sources

53°30′48″N1°08′22.2″W / 53.51333°N 1.139500°W / 53.51333; -1.139500