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Information about Sutton Coldfield Rail Crash

The Sutton Coldfield train disaster took place on 23 January 1955, when an express passenger train from York to Bristol, England, took the sharp curve into Sutton Coldfield railway station at about 55-60 mph (88-96 km/h) - or twice the permitted speed of 30 mph.

The crash

The nine carriage train derailed and collided with the platforms, severely damaging the carriages, engine and buildings. The first carriage was crushed between the engine and the second carriage. The fourth carriage was knocked into the air causing it to drag along the station roof and to damage the platforms either side. 17 people, including the train crew, were killed and 43 injured.

The death and casualty toll was prevented from rising as a result of the actions of two local people who rushed on to the railway tracks to stop a train heading towards the crash site. Two railway employees also raised the alarm to other stations, changed the signals to danger and placed detonators on the railway line. Both were awarded with gold watches for their work, particularly one who had been injured and shocked by the accident.

The response

The scene was attended to by a mobile surgical unit from Birmingham Accident Hospital as well as 40 extra ambulances from surrounding districts. R.A.F. servicemen from Whitehouse Common provided aid to the emergency services.

Possible causes

Although the excessive speed was an obvious major factor in the accident, the exact cause was never fully established. The accident occurred in broad daylight and the driver knew the line well, so the reason for the excessive speed was never established - although it is worth noting that the train was making up some time and was running late. There was no evidence of mechanical failure on the train.

There was a gradient to climb after the station, and the engine (like most steam trains at the time) was not fitted with a speedometer. It seems therefore that the driver knew he was exceeding the speed limit but did not realise it would be dangerous (similarly to Salisbury 1906). The engine was riding roughly and this may have contributed to him misjudging the speed.

Consequences

Following this accident, lineside speed restriction signs were universally adopted; previously there had been no visual reminder to the driver of speed restrictions on many routes. The Inspector also suggested the use of speed recorders, as in France, but this was not adopted.

Similar accidents

See also

References

  • Douglas V. Jones (1994). The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield - A Commemorative History''. Westwood Press, Chapter XIV: 1955-1965. ISBN 0-9502636-7-2. 

External links

Sutton Coldfield

Sutton Coldfield ()
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January 23 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

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  • 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor.

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Sutton Coldfield

The main entrance hall to Sutton Coldfield railway station.
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Place Sutton Coldfield
Local authority Birmingham
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Grid reference SP118963
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Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour.

Miles per hour is the unit used for speed limits, and speeds, on roads in the United Kingdom, United States and some other nations, where it is commonly abbreviated in everyday
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Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. The RAF was formed on 1 April 1918 and has since taken a significant role in British military history since then, playing a large part in World War II and in conflicts such as the recent war in Iraq.
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Whitehouse Common is an area of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England. It lies north of Falcon Lodge which is separated from it by a main road.

The area is served by Whitehouse Common Primary School
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In the Salisbury rail crash of 30 June, 1906, a London and South Western Railway express train from Plymouth to London Waterloo failed to take a very sharp curve at the eastern end of Salisbury station.
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In the Salisbury rail crash of 30 June, 1906, a London and South Western Railway express train from Plymouth to London Waterloo failed to take a very sharp curve at the eastern end of Salisbury station.
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Morpeth in Northumberland has what is reputed to be the most severe curve on any railway main line in Britain, as the track turns 90° from a northerly to an easterly direction immediately south of Morpeth Station, on an otherwise fast section of the East Coast Main Line railway (see
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The Amagasaki rail crash occurred on 25 April, 2005 at around 09:18 local time (00:18 UTC), just after the local rush hour. The Rapid Service bound for Dōshisha-mae on the Gakkentoshi Line via the JR Tozai Line (a seven-car commuter train) came off the tracks on the JR West
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This list is of railway accidents in Britain sorted chronologically. For a list sorted by death toll see List of British rail accidents by death toll. It does not include incidents that did not involve rolling stock, such as the King's Cross fire of 1987.
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