Hither Green rail crash
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Date and time: | 5 November 1967 21:16 |
| Location: | Hither Green Depot |
| Rail line: | Hastings Line (BR Southern Region) |
| Cause: | Broken rail |
| Statistics | |
| Trains: | 1 |
| Passengers: | full train, some standing |
| Deaths: | 49 |
| Injuries: | 78 |
| List of UK rail accidents by year | |
The Hither Green rail crash was an accident on the British railway system that occurred on 5 November 1967 opposite Hither Green Traction Maintenance Depot (TMD), between Hither Green and Grove Park railway stations, in south-east London.
A Sunday evening express train from Hastings to London, consisting of twelve coaches (two six-car Class 201 diesel-electric multiple units), derailed at approximately 70 mph, shortly before the train crossed the St Mildred's Road railway bridge. Most of the carriages overturned, two of them having their sides torn off. The train was well-filled and 49 people died, making it Britain's sixth worst rail disaster in terms of death toll.
The accident was found to be due to a broken rail. At the joint between two lengths of rail, a portion had broken off where it was weakened by bolt holes. The wear and tear on the track was considerable because of the intensive services on this major commuter line, especially considering that the speed limit was raised from 75 mph to 90 mph in July 1967. Inspection techniques and jointing methods were revised, and the existing plans for replacing jointed rail by long-welded rail were given a boost.
One survivor of the crash was Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees pop music band.
[edit] External links
- Railways Archive - Derailment at Hither Green (Summary)
- Railways Archive - Derailment at Hither Green (Complete report, 1.54Mb, PDF)
[edit] References
- Nock, O.S. (1980). Historic Railway Disasters, 2nd ed., Ian Allan.
- Hall, Stanley (1987). Danger Signals. Ian Allan.
- Hither Green rail crash (BBC News online 'On this day')
| Rail accidents in the United Kingdom | Rail accidents in London |
|---|
|
Barnes | Bexley | Cannon Street | Clapham Junction | Dagenham East | Ealing | Eltham Well Hall | Forest Gate | Harrow and Wealdstone | Hither Green | Holborn | Ladbroke Grove | Lewisham | Moorgate | Purley | Southall | South Croydon | Spa Road |
