Polmont rail crash

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Polmont rail crash

Details
Date and time:	30 July 1984 17:55
Location:	Polmont, Central Scotland
Rail line:	Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line
Cause:	Animal obstruction
Statistics
Trains:	1
Passengers:	~5 coaches
Deaths:	13
Injuries:	61
List of UK rail accidents by year

The Polmont rail crash occurred on 30 July 1984 at Polmont, near Falkirk, Scotland. The 17:30 express from Edinburgh to Glasgow, travelling at around 85 mph, struck a cow which had wandered onto the track near Polmont station. Several of the carriages were derailed, resulting in 13 deaths and 61 injuries. The locomotive at the rear of the train stayed on the track.

[edit] Background

During this period, Edinburgh to Glasgow trains were operated by British Rail on a push-pull basis with the Class 47 locomotive remaining at one end of a rake of carriages. It was controlled remotely by signals sent through the lighting circuits of the train from a cab placed in the front of the leading carriage, a Driving Brake Standard Open (DBSO), for this purpose.

The advantage of this system is the reduction in turnaround time at termini as it removes the need to run the locomotive round to the front of the train at each end of the route. The weakness is that in one direction it leaves a carriage at the front of the train. As the DBSO is lighter than a locomotive (it has an axle load of 8.4 tonnes as opposed to around 20 tonnes), should it collide with anything on the track, it will leave the track more readily.

The locomotive, 47707, was named Holyrood.

[edit] Recommendations

As a result of the accident, headlights were placed on the front of trains along with object deflectors, (or "Cow Catchers")

[edit] References

• Department of Transport; Major A.G.B. King (1985). Railway Accident: Report on the Derailment that occurred on 30th July 1984 near Polmont in the Scottish Region, British Railways. HMSO. ISBN 0-11-550685-3.