Lambrigg Crossing

Lambrigg Crossing was a railway accident which occurred on May 18th 1947 at Lambrigg Crossing in Cumbria, United Kingdom.

Accident

On Sunday May 18th 1947 an express passenger train, hauled by Stanier Pacific 'City of Birmingham' travelling on the up line of the West Coast Mainline, then under the supervision of the LMS, collided head on with a 4-4-0 light engine on Docker viaduct just south of Lambrigg crossing.

Details

At the time of the accident the main line was on restricted running because of re-Laying and maintenance work on the down line. The express was to receive piloting and banking assistance from the light engine to cross from the up line to the down line against the gradient. The down express was travelling at AbOUT 55mph when the driver failed to notice A Distant Signal at danger. The driver then observed the home signal at danger and applied the brakes reducing the speed of the express to around 25-30mph. The driver of the light engine had seen the approach of the express and had begun to accelerate away from the oncoming train but could not increase speed fast enough to avoid a collision. The light engine was shunted 77 yards up the track where it was prevented from falling off the viaduct by the masonary parapet. There was only minor damage to the coaches of the express train, although the first three coaches and both locomotives were derailed. The buffer bars and front frames of both locomotives were heavily damaged. The inside cylinders of the express were cracked and axles and some bogies were bent and cracked on the light engine.

Aftermath

4 people were taken to hospital including a cook in the buffet car who suffered burns from cooking equipment. 34 people received minor injuries. The ten coaches of the train which were not derailed continued their journey. Both locomotives were returned to service.

Cause

The accident was attributed to the driver, Mr. G. Stubbs, failing to observe the distant signal at danger because he was distracted by looking into his food box for a handkerchief. Stubbs and the fireman Mr. J. Douglas were both experienced crew who were familiar with the line. The official inquiry found that Stubbs, a man with 34 years of service and 10 years as a driver was wholly responsible for the accident, although the guard Mr. Kent could have done more to observe the distant signal at danger. Kent had left his post within the train, apparently talking to passengers, which had prevented him looking out for the signal, as he should have done. Stubbs was temporarily removed from mainline service upon the recommendation of the report. The report also found that detonators would not have helped and therefore no alterations would be needed to the existing situation.

Notes

The site of this accident is very close to that of the Grayrigg derailment of February 23rd 2007

Sources

Lambrigg Crossing Accident

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