Cookie policy. Statistics Before he could go ask superiors as to where they were, he saw Stokes and Wilsdon return. A member of staff on the platform at this time noted that he had seen both Stokes and Wilsdon depart the locomotive and leave the station via Platform No.1 three minutes after having arrived at Margate and this was later compared with the timings made by Guard Atterbury, who recorded a 20:13 departure from Margate (eight minutes late) noting that both Stokes and Wilsdon were absent. A public inquiry carried out into the cause of the accident was launched on 12 June 1972 by Colonel John R.H. Robertson that looked into the cause of the derailment. Nevertheless, at Wilsdon's suggestion, they both went to the nearby Railway Staff Association Club at about 19:00 and drank three pints of light and bitter beer each. The second incident occurred on 28 March 1969, when Wilsdon was fined 1 for being drunk in Lewisham. 2004 - 2023 railwaysarchive.co.uk - all rights reserved. A 24-year-old man was cut free from wreckage crushing his head and abdomen and died from a heart attack on the way to hospital. Stationmaster Arundell signalled the train clear to depart for London, but both he and Atterbury found that there was no response in the cab. All of the coaches were Mark 1 rolling stock with the oldest coach dating back to 1954 and the newest coach dating to 1962. All three of these coaches were leaning over on their left sides to various degrees, with the leading end of the fifth coach having been badly damaged by the impact with the fourth coach. Emergency treatment for the driver's injured mate after the crash of an excursion train from Margate outside Well Hall Station, Eltham, London, last night Press Association Photos Railman Akehurst, who was on duty on the Well Hall platforms, had seen several earlier trains pass through the station and thence the curve, all of them slowing to the safe speed of 20 miles per hour (32km/h) but when he saw the excursion train approaching, he was quite certain it was traveling far beyond that speed. The Eltham Well Hall rail crash was an accident on the British railway system that occurred on 11 June 1972 at approximately 21:35. Again, he was off-duty at the time and the British Rail was not informed of this occurrence until April. money train crash mexico train crash 2,339 Train Crash Premium Video Footage Browse 2,339 train crash videos and clips available to use in your projects, or search for money train crash or mexico train crash to find more footage and b-roll video clips. Both brothers confirmed that he had not drunk after leaving the pub and were adamant on this point at the later public inquiry. Eltham Well Hall rail crash Wiki - everipedia.org The Eltham Well Hall rail crash was an accident on the British railway system that occurred on 11 June 1972 at approximately 21:35. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Pinterest. Both men were subsequently suspended shortly afterwards, against which Wilsdon immediately appealed, claiming that the event was an isolated incident. A diesel locomotive pulling ten coaches entered the curve which has a 20 mph speed restriction at 65 mph. These trains would be driven by Southern Region drivers for some of the journey (particularly to ensure that experienced drivers took the trains through the complex arrangements around Clapham Junction) and would, on reaching Margate and being cleared of passengers, take them onward to Ramsgate Depot where they would be stored until the return trip. The locomotive and first four coaches left the rails and came to rest at an angle to the track, the second and third coaches on their sides. The first and most serious of these moments was the fact that it was uncertain what had occurred with Wilsdon and his brothers between 14:02 and 17:15 with his brothers both declaring that Wilsdon had not drunk after returning from the pub in Rainham. Guard Atterbury was 57 and had been a guard since 1948 and was based at London Bridge and although he had worked the Bexleyheath line before, he had never done so on a fast train. The public inquiry into the accident eleven years later agreed that this incident was a seemingly isolated occurrence and all had reason to believe Wilsdon; the Line Manager who reinstated the two was not criticised for this approach, although some criticism was given to the Management in 1961 for promoting Wilsdon so quickly after being reinstated. According to Obee, Wilsdon had stopped at Rainham to inquire of the position of the first excursion train, which Obee explained was to stop at Gillingham railway station and would let Wilsdon overtake it, which was not as planned (Wilsdon's train was to overtake the first excursion train at Newington railway station which was prior to Rainham); to which Wilsdon told him "you should read your weekly notices". The driver Robert Wilsdon and five passengers were killed, and 126 people were injured. Despite this, Wilsdon suggested the pair go to the nearby Railway Staff Association Club at about 19:00 and get a drink to which Stokes agreed, with the pair arriving just in time for the club to open at 19:05. D1677. The locomotive jumped the sharp curve, derailing and rolling onto its left side and sliding through a coal yard. This document was kindly sourced from Harry Knox and is in our Accident reports collection. This was a very unusual action, particularly as he had made up almost seven minutes of the lost time. Website & Copyright information - Links - Contact the Webmaster, All content is copyright David Glasspool unless otherwise stated. Pin on Eltham In reality, Wilsdon did not leave for Rainham station until 17:15 and as such his move was solely to gain pay for an extra two hours for which he had not actually been on duty. Trying to gain Wilsdon's attention, he made two light applications ("splashes") of the guard's brake. A medical expert stated that during the time given, 5 pints of bitter, a third of a bottle of sherry and a quarter bottle of spirits would "just about achieve" the levels found, providing that "the bulk of the spirits was drunk between 20:15 and 21:30". An excursion train from Margate to Kentish Town derailed on a sharp curve at Eltham Well Hall station, Eltham, London. The second uncertain moment was what occurred to both him and Stokes during the stop at Margate, in which both seemingly left the station via the Platform No.1 entrance. A combination of the signal checks at Sittingbourne and Rainham and the unscheduled stop at Rainham had caused Wilsdon to lose most of the progress he had made between Margate and Sittingbourne. The journey was normal until the train stopped for signals at Rainham, whereafter the driver made an unscheduled stop in the station to telephone the signalman and ask about another excursion train that they were due to pass some distance ahead. By 1972 he was married with young children and living in Rainham, Kent - which meant he would usually have to make an almost two hour rail commute to his depot at Hither Green. The last recommendation that Robertson made regarding the accident was the usage of telephone to sign on duty within the Southern Region. It seems these splashes were too late and light to register in the cab. The structure sat at milepost 9 from Charing Cross. 2004 - 2023 railwaysarchive.co.uk - all rights reserved. Eltham Well Hall train crash; Statements. News Stories Although Robertson could not confirm Stokes' statements, he considered it likely that Wilsdon had drunk after 14:02 owing to the smell on Wilsdon's breath at Rainham several hours later and, whilst not explicitly accusing Wilsdon's brothers of lying, considered that anybody who tried to hide evidence of Wilsdon's drinking that day "did him a disservice". This did not occur, and the two met up at Ramsgate Depot by the locomotive at around 18:25. Note how the staircase of the footbridge passed through the roof of the canopy. He had worked with Wilsdon occasionally before and had driven with him a few times prior. The rear end of the first coach came to rest up against the leading cab. At 15:22 Wilsdon signed on duty with Hither Green by telephone. At about 15:20 he booked on duty by telephone with Hither Green depot and travelled by train to Ramsgate. Col J.R.H. 125 passengers were injured. It will be noticed on those structures which still survive at Bexleyheath and Welling that their wider, 25-foot portions also demonstrate a higher hipped roof section. Running slightly late and at Wilsdon's urging, the pair returned to Ramsgate Depot at around 19:40. However, as the train approached Sittingbourne, the train was forced to briefly stop due to signals and it was held again momentarily around Rainham by Signalman Obee who had been forced to open his level crossing to allow a pair of buses through as the train was running late. A medical expert stated that during the time given, 5 pints of bitter, a third of a bottle of sherry and a quarter bottle of spirits would "just about achieve" the levels found, providing that "the bulk of the spirits was drunk between 20:15 and 21:30". Copyright Info. "Well Hall", as the station was first known, was the subject of two closure attempts during its lifetime - the second of which succeeded - and came into use with the 8-mile Bexleyheath Line on 1st May 1895. A combination of the signal checks at Sittingbourne and Rainham and the unscheduled stop at Rainham had caused Wilsdon to lose most of the progress he had made between Margate and Sittingbourne. In future, train crew would have to book in by telephone or report to a supervisor who could visibly look for signs of unfitness for duty. David Glasspool Collection, The main building on the "up" side was a carbon copy of the structure which still exists today at Bexleyheath. Apr 2, 2017 - Eltham Well Hall Rail Crash.
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