Sutton Coldfield rail crash

The Sutton Coldfield train crash took place at about 16:13 on 23 January 1955 in Sutton Coldfield, a town now within the City of Birmingham, when an express passenger train traveling from York to Bristol, England, derailed due to excessive speed on a sharp curve.

Accident circumstances

Headed by a Class "5" 4-6-0 steam locomotive No 45274, the 12:15 York to Bristol express, consisting of ten carriages train approached the Sutton Coldfield railway station at about 55-60 mph (88-96 km/h) — twice the permitted speed of 30 mph. When it reached the sharp curve immediately before the station, the train derailed, colliding with the platforms.

The carriages, engine, and station buildings were severely damaged. 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, damaging both the roof and the platforms to either side. 17 people, including the train crew, were killed and 43 injured.

Emergency response

The number of casualties was prevented from rising as a result of the actions of two local people who rushed up the railway line 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 tracks to warn oncoming trains. One of the two had been injured and shocked by the accident, and both were awarded with gold watches for their work.

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

Possible causes

Although the excessive speed was the 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. There was no evidence of mechanical failure on the train. The driver and fireman died in the locomotive , so the reason for the excessive speed was never established. Investigators identified several factors that could have contributed to the excessive speed:

*The train was making up some time and was running late.

*There was a gradient to climb after the station which was best approached at full speed.

*The steam locomotive (like most at the time) was not fitted with a speedometer.

*The engine was riding roughly, which may have contributed to the driver's misjudging the speed.

It seems therefore that the driver knew he was exceeding the speed limit but did not realise the extent of the danger (similarly to the Salisbury rail crash of 1906).

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

* Salisbury rail crash - 1906 - Overspeed through sharp curve through station. 28 killed.
* Morpeth rail crashes - 1969 etc. - Overspeed through sharp curve.
* Amagasaki rail crash - 2005 - Overspeed through sharp curve. 107 killed, 555 injured.

ee also

* List of British rail accidents

References

*cite book|author=Douglas V. Jones|title=The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield - A Commemorative History"|pages=Chapter XIV: 1955-1965|year=1994|publisher=Westwood Press|isbn=0-9502636-7-2

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/23/newsid_2671000/2671481.stm BBC Page on January 1955 accident]
* [http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=110 The Railways Archive: Accident at Sutton Coldfield]