Dagenham East rail crash
Encyclopedia
The Dagenham East rail crash was a railway accident on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
line of British Railways which occurred at Dagenham
, United Kingdom
.
The accident took place at around 19:34 on 30 January 1958 and was a rear-end collision
of two late-running trains. Conditions at Dagenham East
station were foggy at the time. The accident occurred after one train had passed a signal indicating danger
due to a driver error. Ten passengers were killed in the accident and 89 injured. Four members of railway staff were also injured.
The trains involved were the LMS 2-6-4 tank engine
hauled 18:20 Fenchurch Street
to Shoeburyness
and the BR standard 2-6-4 tank
hauled 18:35 Fenchurch Street to Thorpe Bay
. Both trains consisted of 11 coaches, carrying approximately 500 passengers each. The 18:35 train ploughed into the back of the 18:20 departure which demolished three carriages and derailed several others. The locomotive of the 18:35 train and leading carriage were derailed. Some wreckage blocked the adjacent London Underground
line but did not cause any further accidents.
One of the locomotives involved in this accident (80079) survives today at the Severn Valley Railway
.
London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway is an English railway line linking Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London with northeast London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway area of southern Essex. It is currently known as the Essex Thameside Route by Network Rail...
line of British Railways which occurred at Dagenham
Dagenham
Dagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The accident took place at around 19:34 on 30 January 1958 and was a rear-end collision
Rear-end collision
A rear-end collision is a traffic accident wherein a vehicle crashes into the vehicle in front of it, usually caused by tailgating or panic stops...
of two late-running trains. Conditions at Dagenham East
Dagenham East tube station
Dagenham East is a London Underground station on the District line, located in the suburb of Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The station is in Zone 5 and is located between Dagenham Heathway to the west and Elm Park to the east. The station has moderate usage for a...
station were foggy at the time. The accident occurred after one train had passed a signal indicating danger
Signal passed at danger
A Signal passed at danger , in British railway terminology, occurs when a train passes a stop signal without authority to do so. It is a term primarily used within the British Railway Industry, although it can be applied worldwide.-Categories of SPAD:...
due to a driver error. Ten passengers were killed in the accident and 89 injured. Four members of railway staff were also injured.
The trains involved were the LMS 2-6-4 tank engine
LMS 2-Cylindered Stanier 2-6-4T
Sir William Stanier's London, Midland and Scottish Railway 2-Cylinder 2-6-4T is a class of 206 steam locomotive built between 1935 and 1943. They were based on his LMS 3-Cylinder 2-6-4T....
hauled 18:20 Fenchurch Street
Fenchurch Street railway station
Fenchurch Street railway station, also known as London Fenchurch Street, is a central London railway terminus in the south eastern corner of the City of London, England. The station is one of the smallest terminals in London in terms of platforms and one of the most intensively operated...
to Shoeburyness
Shoeburyness railway station
Shoeburyness is a railway station located in the small town of Shoeburyness in the borough and unitary district of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England. The station serves as the eastern terminus of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway from Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London,...
and the BR standard 2-6-4 tank
BR standard class 4 tank
The British Railways Standard Class 4 tank was a class of steam locomotive, one of the BR standard classes built during the 1950s. They were used primarily on commuter and outer suburban services.- Background :...
hauled 18:35 Fenchurch Street to Thorpe Bay
Thorpe Bay railway station
Thorpe Bay is a railway station in Southend-on-Sea, on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway. Train services are provided by c2c. The station is 37 miles distant on the main line from Fenchurch Street.- Layout :...
. Both trains consisted of 11 coaches, carrying approximately 500 passengers each. The 18:35 train ploughed into the back of the 18:20 departure which demolished three carriages and derailed several others. The locomotive of the 18:35 train and leading carriage were derailed. Some wreckage blocked the adjacent London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
line but did not cause any further accidents.
One of the locomotives involved in this accident (80079) survives today at the Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
.