Cowlairs train collision

Cowlairs train collision
Details
Date	1 August 1850
Location	Cowlairs, Scotland
Coordinates	55°52′50″N4°14′20″W / 55.88056°N 4.23889°W / 55.88056; -4.23889
Country	United Kingdom
Operator	Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Incident type	Collision
Cause	Signal passed at danger; failure to protect
Statistics
Trains	2
Deaths	5
Injured	9
List of rail accidents (before 1880)

The Cowlairs train collision was an 1850 rear-end collision that resulted in the deaths of five passengers. ^[1]

Incident

On August 1, 1850, three trains were scheduled to arrive in succession at Cowlairs. The first and second trains had arrived at this point, but the second train was parked atop a rail crossover. The train to reverse to clear space, but in doing this, the engineer made no effort to protect the rear of the train or alert the approaching third locomotive. ^{[2] [3]}

By the time the third train had approached, it was already too late. The third collided with the rear of the second train, which resulted in the deaths of 5 passengers, including a child. An additional 9 others were injured. ^[4]

Investigation

An official inquiry blamed multiple factors including fault on the railway company for allowing passenger overcrowding, and additional blame on the engineer on the engineer of the second train for failing to send back any signals prior to reversing. ^[4]

References

1. "Details of the Fatal Accident". Railway Fatal Accidents. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
2. Hall, Stanley (1990). The Railway Detectives. London: Ian Allan. p. 26. ISBN   0-7110-1929-0.
3. Rolt, L.T.C.; Kichenside, Geoffrey (1982). Red for Danger (4th ed.). Newton Abbot. pp. 43–44. ISBN   978-0-7153-8362-9.
4. "Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Cowlairs on 1st August 1850". Railways Archive. Retrieved October 11, 2025.