The Valley Heights train collision was an accident on the Western Railway line of New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

 at Valley Heights.

Overview

The collision was between a moving empty wheat train and the previous empty coal train which was stationary in Valley Heights station. The collision took place in the early hours around 2am.

The accident occurred on July 18, 1982.

There was a risk of explosion from the leakage of gas from two cylinders in the guards van.

Fatalities and Injuries

The driver of the wheat train was killed.

The guard of the coal train was slightly injured, even though the brake van

Brake van

Brake van and guard's van are terms used mainly in the UK, Australia and India for a railway vehicle equipped with a hand brake which can be applied by the guard...

in which he was travelling was reduced to splinters.