Report on the Collision that occurred on 2nd July 1976 at Gilbert's Cutting on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

"On a bright and very hot day the railway was operating its normal hourly service and, in addition, a train was dispatched from Ravenglass at 11-55 carrying two parties of school children. It arrived at the far terminus at Dalegarth at 12.32 and was scheduled to depart from there on its Down journey to Ravenglass at 13.55. The special train, comprising eight coaches of mixed design and hauled by a diesel-hydraulic locomotive, departed on time and, on approaching Gilberts Cutting, approximately a mile from Dalegarth, at about 10 mile/h, it came into head-on collision with the 13.30 Up passenger train from Ravenglass also travelling at about 10 mile/h. This train also consisted of eight coaches of mixed design and was hauled by a 2-8-2 steam locomotive.

All the coaches on the Down train remained upright and coupled together, although a number of bogies were derailed. Included in the Up train, however, was a 16-seat open coach of old design, having its draw gear attached to the bogies instead of to the frame of the coach. On impact this coach was forced upwards on top of the coach in front of it, demolishing most of the latter coach's bodywork and causing the majority of the serious injuries to passengers.

The emergency services were alerted promptly by the guard of one of the trains and twelve passengers were taken to hospital. Four people were detained with serious injuries, while the other eight were discharged after treatment. The driver of the Up train also suffered severe bruising and shock."

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