Ealing rail crash

infobox UK rail accident

location map|Greater London|label=|position=left|width=290|lat=51.513910 |long= -0.310837|caption=|float=right
title= Ealing rail crash
date= 19 December 1973
location= Ealing
line = Great Western Main Line
cause= unlocked battery box
trains= 1
pax=
deaths= 10
injuries= 94The Ealing rail crash was an accident on the British railway system that occurred on 19 December 1973. The 17:18 express train from Paddington station to Oxford was derailed while travelling at around 70 mph between Ealing Broadway and West Ealing. Ten passengers were killed and 94 were injured.

The locomotive, a Class 52 diesel-hydraulic, had spent the previous night at Old Oak Common depot and had had its batteries recharged. A door on the battery box had been left unlocked and fell open shortly into the journey. It hit the platform at Ealing Broadway, breaking the arms supporting it and allowing it to swing down and hit a point operating machine. The points moved under the locomotive, throwing it onto its side and derailing the coaches, which came to rest across the tracks.

References

* [http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=273 Official accident report courtesy of the Railways Archive]