Weedon rail crashes
Weedon, Northamptonshire on the West Coast Main Line
has been the site of two serious derailments in 1915 and 1951, killing 10 and 15 people respectively.
1915 rail crash
| Weedon rail crash (1915) | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Date | 14 August 1915 |
| Location | Weedon, Northamptonshire |
| Coordinates | 52°13′20″N 1°03′50″W / 52.22212°N 1.06387°W |
| Country | England |
| Line | West Coast Main Line |
| Operator | London and North Western Railway |
| Incident type | Derailment |
| Cause | Detached coupling rod |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 2 |
| Deaths | 10 |
| Injured | 21 |
| List of UK rail accidents by year | |
On Saturday, 14 August 1915, the 08:45 Birmingham to Euston express passenger train, hauled by
Stowe Hill tunnel
.
1951 rail crash
| Weedon rail crash (1951) | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Date | 21 September 1951 11:15 |
| Location | British Railways |
| Incident type | Derailment |
| Cause | Jammed axlebox |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Deaths | 15 |
| Injured | 35 |
| List of UK rail accidents by year | |
On Friday, 21 September 1951 the 08:20
Weedon, Northamptonshire, on the West Coast Main Line
south of Rugby, at a speed of 65 mph and finally crashed, killing 15 people and injuring 35 more. The footplate crew survived and protected their train in spite of being severely shocked.
The accident enquiry, conducted by Lt Col G R S Wilson, found the track to be in good condition and the speed of the train not to be excessive. However this was the first trip out for the locomotive, No 46207 Princess Arthur of Connaught after its
axlebox.[2] The approximate location of the collision was 52°13′32″N 1°04′20″W / 52.22559°N 1.07219°W, less than a mile south-east of the 1915 derailment and close to the signal-box at Heyford
south of Stowe Hill tunnel where the occupants were able to see the accident.
References
- OCLC 226007088.
- ^ "1951 rail disaster at Weedon - includes picture and track diagram". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
External links
- Ministry of Transport Official Report into 1915 accident
- Ministry of Transport Official Report into 1951 accident
- Pathe newsreel of 1951 accident
Railway accidents in 1951 | |
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‡ indicates railway accidents and incidents resulting in at least 20 fatalities § indicates the deadliest railway accident in British history 1815–1899   2000–present | |