Settle rail crash
Encyclopedia
The Settle rail crash was a railway accident that occurred at Langcliffe
near Settle
on the night of 21 January 1960 in which two trains collided, killing five people and injuring eight more.
Britannia Pacific No 70052 Firth of Tay was leading the 21:05 train from Glasgow St Enoch
to London St Pancras. On the descent from Ais Gill summit, the driver heard a repeated knocking which he thought came from the connecting rods near where they were connected to the locomotive's drive wheels. He reduced speed and later stopped the train at Garsdale
, but was unable to find the cause of the noise. He continued south at between 20-30 mph. The fireman on the right of the train then saw sparks from the side of the locomotive as ballast began to be thrown up against the cab. As the driver made a full brake application, an LMS class 5
-hauled goods train passed in the opposite direction. The engine and eight leading wagons derailed, colliding with the side of the first three carriages of the express, killing five people and injuring eight more. The accident happened near the village of Langcliffe
, immediately north of Settle.
Langcliffe
Langcliffe is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England it is situated to the immediate north of Settle.Notable residents or former residents of this village include authors Leah Fleming and Marina Fiorato-External links:...
near Settle
Settle
Settle is a small market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is served by the Settle railway station, which is located near the town centre, and Giggleswick railway station which is a mile away. It is from Leeds Bradford Airport...
on the night of 21 January 1960 in which two trains collided, killing five people and injuring eight more.
Britannia Pacific No 70052 Firth of Tay was leading the 21:05 train from Glasgow St Enoch
St Enoch railway station
-External links:* *...
to London St Pancras. On the descent from Ais Gill summit, the driver heard a repeated knocking which he thought came from the connecting rods near where they were connected to the locomotive's drive wheels. He reduced speed and later stopped the train at Garsdale
Garsdale railway station
Garsdale railway station is a railway station which serves the immediate hamlet of Garsdale Head, Cumbria, England, together with the valley of Garsdale and the nearby towns of Sedbergh, Cumbria and Hawes, North Yorkshire...
, but was unable to find the cause of the noise. He continued south at between 20-30 mph. The fireman on the right of the train then saw sparks from the side of the locomotive as ballast began to be thrown up against the cab. As the driver made a full brake application, an LMS class 5
LMS Hughes Crab
The London Midland and Scottish Railway Hughes Crab or Horwich Mogul is a class of mixed traffic 2-6-0 steam locomotive built between 1926 and 1932. They are noted for their appearance with large highly-angled cylinders caused by restricted loading gauge...
-hauled goods train passed in the opposite direction. The engine and eight leading wagons derailed, colliding with the side of the first three carriages of the express, killing five people and injuring eight more. The accident happened near the village of Langcliffe
Langcliffe
Langcliffe is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England it is situated to the immediate north of Settle.Notable residents or former residents of this village include authors Leah Fleming and Marina Fiorato-External links:...
, immediately north of Settle.