Report on the Derailment that occurred on 24th February 1965 at Wickford in the Eastern Region British Railways

"The 10.18 hrs Down multiple-unit electric passenger train consisting of eight coaches. from Liverpool Street to Southend (Victoria), became derailed after starting from Wickford owing to the facing points for the single line branch to Southminster being moved under the seventh coach. The signalman had heedlessly manipulated the lever as the train was over the points whilst demonstrating a fault in the electric locking to the signal technician.

The rear bogie of the seventh coach and the eighth coach followed the branch mute which runs close to and parallel with the Southend line for about 350 yards, passing safely under the overhead portal electrification structures of the main line which here span all three lines. They were then derailed after damaging the track where the branch begins to diverge, and the seventh coach brought down two portal structures and demolished a slab concrete plate-layer's hut as it was dragged at an angle to the track before the train came to rest. The side of this coach was badly stove in about half-way along its length and the front end of the eighth coach was also damaged by sidelong collision with one of the structures or the hut, but I am glad to say that only two people were hurt. both passengers, and their injuries were minor."

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