Sutton Coldfield rail crash
Encyclopedia
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.
steam locomotive No 45274, the 12:15 York to Bristol express, consisting of ten carriages, 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. There were 17 people, including the train crew
, who were killed and 25 injured.
It may be noted that the train had been diverted away from its usual route into Birmingham via Tamworth because of engineering work. The regular driver did not know the diversionary route via Sutton Coldfield, so another driver, fully conversant with it, had joined him at Burton-on-Trent to 'conduct' him over this section. However, the driver, complaining that the rough riding of the engine was tiring him, left the footplate and took a seat in the train, leaving the conductor driver in charge. This action was later criticised by the Inspecting Officer, who commented that even though he did not know the route, the safety of the train was still his responsibility.
s 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.
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).
- 1906 - Overspeed through sharp curve through station. 28 killed. Morpeth rail crashes - 1969 etc. - Overspeed through sharp curve. Waterfall rail accident - 2003 - overspeed through sharp curve - 7 killed Amagasaki rail crash
- 2005 - Overspeed through sharp curve. 107 killed, 555 injured.
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
, a town now within the City of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, when an express passenger train traveling from York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
to Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, derailed due to excessive speed on a sharp curve.
Accident circumstances
Headed by a LMS Class 5 4-6-0LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0
The London Midland and Scottish Railway's Class 5 4-6-0, almost universally known as the Black Five, is a class of steam locomotive. It was introduced by William Stanier in 1934 and 842 were built between then and 1951...
steam locomotive No 45274, the 12:15 York to Bristol express, consisting of ten carriages, approached the Sutton Coldfield railway station
Sutton Coldfield railway station
Sutton Coldfield railway station is the main railway station for the town of Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands. It is situated on the Redditch-Birmingham New Street-Lichfield Cross-City Line 7½ miles north east of Birmingham New Street....
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. There were 17 people, including the train crew
Crew
A crew is a body or a class of people who work at a common activity, generally in a structured or hierarchical organization. A location in which a crew works is called a crewyard or a workyard...
, who were killed and 25 injured.
It may be noted that the train had been diverted away from its usual route into Birmingham via Tamworth because of engineering work. The regular driver did not know the diversionary route via Sutton Coldfield, so another driver, fully conversant with it, had joined him at Burton-on-Trent to 'conduct' him over this section. However, the driver, complaining that the rough riding of the engine was tiring him, left the footplate and took a seat in the train, leaving the conductor driver in charge. This action was later criticised by the Inspecting Officer, who commented that even though he did not know the route, the safety of the train was still his responsibility.
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 detonatorDetonator (railway)
A railway detonator is a device used to make a loud sound as a warning signal to train drivers. The detonator is the size of a large coin with two lead straps, one on each side. The detonator is placed on the top of the rail and the straps are used to secure it...
s 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
Birmingham Accident Hospital
Birmingham Accident Hospital formerly known as Birmingham Accident Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre was established in April 1941 as Birmingham's response to two reports, the British Medical Association's Committee on Fractures and the Interdepartmental Committee on the Rehabilitation of...
as well as 40 additional ambulances from surrounding districts. R.A.F.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
servicemen from Whitehouse Common
Whitehouse Common
Whitehouse Common is an area of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England. It lies north of Falcon Lodge which is separated from it by a main road.The area is served by ....
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
Salisbury rail crash
In the Salisbury rail crash of 1 July 1906, a London and South Western Railway boat train from Plymouth's Friary railway station to London Waterloo station failed to navigate a very sharp curve at the eastern end of Salisbury railway station. The curve had a speed limit of 30 mph, but the express...
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 crashSalisbury rail crash
In the Salisbury rail crash of 1 July 1906, a London and South Western Railway boat train from Plymouth's Friary railway station to London Waterloo station failed to navigate a very sharp curve at the eastern end of Salisbury railway station. The curve had a speed limit of 30 mph, but the express...
- 1906 - Overspeed through sharp curve through station. 28 killed. Morpeth rail crashes - 1969 etc. - Overspeed through sharp curve. Waterfall rail accident - 2003 - overspeed through sharp curve - 7 killed Amagasaki rail crash
Amagasaki rail crash
The Amagasaki rail crash occurred on 25 April 2005 at 09:19 local time , just after the local rush hour. The Rapid Service came off the tracks on the West Japan Railway Company Fukuchiyama Line in Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture, near Osaka, just before Amagasaki Station on its way for Dōshisha-mae...
- 2005 - Overspeed through sharp curve. 107 killed, 555 injured.