James William Nightall

James William Nightall

Railwayman James William Nightall was posthumously awarded the George Cross for the gallantry he showed during a train accident in Soham in Cambridgeshire. An LNER Fireman on a 51 wagon ammunition train train driven by Gimbert, he helped Gimbert uncouple a burning wagon from the rest of the train. The wagon exploded, killing Nightall instantly, blowing a twenty foot crater in the track and destroying Soham railway station. 600 buildings in the village were damaged. Driver Benjamin Gimbert, who miraculously survived the conflagration, was also awarded the George Cross.

On 28 September 1981 two Class 47 locomotives were named in honour of the two railwaymen: No. 47577 was named "Benjamin Gimbert, GC" and No. 47579 "James Nightall, GC". [ [http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/railwaymen.htm GC Awards to Railwaymen ] ]

References


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  • Soham — Infobox UK place country = England official name= Soham latitude= 52.333831 longitude= 0.336063 civil parish= Soham population = 9,102 (2001) shire district= East Cambridgeshire shire county= Cambridgeshire region= East of England constituency… …   Wikipedia

  • Class 47 renumbering — The 512 members of the class 47 underwent many changes in their long career on British railways. Under the TOPS system each change was reflected in a change of identity. This table attempts to catalogue those changes. BTC TOPS Name D1100 47298… …   Wikipedia

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