South Croydon rail crash
Encyclopedia
The South Croydon rail crash on the British railway system occurred on 24 October 1947.
The crash took place south of South Croydon railway station
. Two electric commuter trains collided in fog and 32 people were killed, one of whom was the driver of the second train. It was the worst accident on Britain's Southern Railway
during its existence, from 1923 to 1947.
The accident was a rear collision
caused by a signalman's
error. The inexperienced signalman at Purley Oaks
forgot about a train from Haywards Heath
to London Victoria standing invisible in the fog. The line was protected by Sykes "Lock and Block" apparatus, which prevented him from allowing another train into the section until the preceding one had left it. However, he believed that the elderly apparatus was faulty and used a release key. This allowed a train from Tattenham Corner
to Victoria into the same section and they collided near South Croydon Junction
. The trains were crowded in the rush hour, carrying 800 and 1000 people respectively, hence the heavy death toll.
Similar accidents occurred at Battersea Park
in 1937, Barnes
in 1955 and Crayford railway station
in 1959.
The crash took place south of South Croydon railway station
South Croydon railway station
South Croydon railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London, in Travelcard Zone 5. It is on the Brighton Line at its junction with the Oxted Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern.-History:...
. Two electric commuter trains collided in fog and 32 people were killed, one of whom was the driver of the second train. It was the worst accident on Britain's Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
during its existence, from 1923 to 1947.
The accident was a rear 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...
caused by a signalman's
Signalman (rail)
A signalman or signaller is an employee of a railway transport network who operates the points and signals from a signal box in order to control the movement of trains.- History :...
error. The inexperienced signalman at Purley Oaks
Purley Oaks railway station
Purley Oaks railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London. The station is on the Brighton Main Line between Croydon and Redhill. All trains serving it are operated by Southern and it is in London Travelcard Zone 6...
forgot about a train from Haywards Heath
Haywards Heath railway station
Haywards Heath railway station serves Haywards Heath in West Sussex, England. It is on the Brighton Main Line and Thameslink north of Brighton, and train services are primarily provided by Southern and First Capital Connect...
to London Victoria standing invisible in the fog. The line was protected by Sykes "Lock and Block" apparatus, which prevented him from allowing another train into the section until the preceding one had left it. However, he believed that the elderly apparatus was faulty and used a release key. This allowed a train from Tattenham Corner
Tattenham Corner railway station
Tattenham Corner railway station is in Surrey, in England. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern, and it is the terminus of the Tattenham Corner Line. London-bound trains head south as far as Tadworth, then turn east and finally north....
to Victoria into the same section and they collided near South Croydon Junction
South Croydon railway station
South Croydon railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London, in Travelcard Zone 5. It is on the Brighton Line at its junction with the Oxted Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern.-History:...
. The trains were crowded in the rush hour, carrying 800 and 1000 people respectively, hence the heavy death toll.
Similar accidents occurred at Battersea Park
Battersea Park rail crash (1937)
The Battersea Park rail crash occurred on 2 April 1937, just south of Battersea Park railway station on the Southern Railway, in London. Two electrically driven passenger trains collided on the Up Local line; the second train, from Coulsdon to Victoria, had been allowed into the section while it...
in 1937, Barnes
Barnes rail crash
The Barnes rail crash occurred at Barnes railway station late in the evening of 2 December 1955 in which 13 people were killed and 41 injured....
in 1955 and Crayford railway station
Crayford railway station
Crayford railway station is in the London Borough of Bexley in south-east London, in Travelcard Zone 6. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southeastern....
in 1959.