Wigan rail crash
Wigan rail crash | |
---|---|
Details | |
Date | 3 August 1873 01:20 |
Location | Wigan North Western station |
Country | England |
Line | West Coast Main Line |
Operator | London and North Western Railway |
Cause | Derailment due to excessive speed |
Statistics | |
Trains | 1 |
Deaths | 13 |
Injured | 30 |
List of UK rail accidents by year |
The Wigan rail crash was a railway accident which occurred at Wigan North Western station, England, to a northbound excursion train in the early morning of 3 August 1873. Thirteen passengers were killed after derailed carriages collided with station buildings. The train was declared to have been travelling at excessive speed.
Circumstances
In Victorian times annual holidays to Scotland were popular amongst the affluent, inspired by Queen Victoria's visits to Balmoral Castle. The 'Tourist Special' which left London Euston at 20:00 on 2 August 1873 drawn by two locomotives consisted of 25 vehicles by the time it left Crewe including many private family coaches. Many of the passengers were aristocrats travelling north for the opening of the grouse season.
As the long train ran through
Investigation
The lengthy enquiry failed to find any fault with the offending points which indeed had suffered virtually no damage. However almost all the passengers stated that they had been alarmed by the speed of the train and the rocking of the carriages on the journey up from Euston. The conclusion of the enquiry was that the speed of the train had been excessive, especially considering its motley collection of carriages. However, an extra tie-bar was added to points so as to increase their strength and stability, a design modification which remains in current points on the national network.
Sources
- ISBN 0-7153-8362-0.