You are in RA » Document Archive » Accident at Calton Tunnel on 7th December 1854 » Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Calton Tunnel on 7th December 1854

Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Calton Tunnel on 7th December 1854

Document Summary

The report on a rear collision between a passenger train and a freight train in Calton tunnel, Edinburgh; part of he passenger train then ran back and collided with a following light engine. Also includes related correspondence and a report on a collision at Tranent on 25 November 1854.

This document was published on 30th December 1854 by Board of Trade.

It was written by Col. W. Yolland.

This item is linked to the Accident at Calton Tunnel on 7th December 1854

The original document format was Bound Volume, and comprised 8 pages.

This document was kindly sourced from Bill King and is in our Accident reports collection. It was added to the Archive on 13th October 2011 by Stuart Johnson.

Copyright Information

This document is Crown Copyright, and is subject to the terms governing the reproduction of crown copyright material. Depending on the status and age of the original document, you may need an OPSI click-use license if you wish to reproduce this material, and other restrictions may apply. Please see this explanation for further details.

"The passenger train then went up the incline, travelling according to the statement of the driver at not more than 12 miles an hour, until he saw an "all right" signal light at the eastern end of the tunnel, but worked from the western telegraphic office, thus permitting him to enter the tunnel, when he increased his speed to about 15 miles an hour, and was proceeding at that rate when the collision occurred. The effect of this collision, beyond the damages to the two engines and tenders, and the goods break van, was to uncouple three out of four of the carriages and a break van, of which the train consisted, the van being in the centre, which, together with the three carriages, immediately commenced descending the incline. The head guard was rendered insensible and lay at the bottom of his van from the violence of the concussion, and he was therefore quite incapable of using the break; the second guard, in the last carriage, when he attempted to apply the break, found that it would not work having been damaged by the collision, and he then attempted to crawl along the top of the carriages so as to endeavour to reach the break van, but he did not succeed in getting beyond the top of the carriage next the van, before the descending carriages came in contact, near the Abbey Hill Bridge, with another pilot engine, which the central telegraphic officer had permitted to pass up the incline on its way for night duty at the Edinburgh station, when he was violently thrown into the open end of the break van on to the floor. The result of this second collision were very deplorable; one gentleman was so much injured internally that he died shortly afterwards, and very many others were more or less severe]y hurt, beside the damages to the carriages."

Have Your Say

Does the franchise model just need technical changes or would a concession system be better?

or just view the results

Mailing List

Join our 1676 other members and sign up to receive the RA newsletter, with links to all new documents and other site news...

See how our privacy policy protects your address.

Donate

Please consider donating to help with our running costs.