This item is linked to the Accident at Clapham Junction on 12th December 1988. I enjoy your posts very much. A crowded passenger train crashed into the rear of another train that had stopped at a signal, and an empty train, travelling in the other direction, crashed into the debris. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? Genealogy Act 1974,[28] there was no prosecution for manslaughter. It is also the busiest station in the UK for interchanges between services. His mistakes had allowed a signal to remain at green when the Basingstoke train had stopped just beyond it. Twenty-two of the people killed were from Dorset and the New Forest. He then called the Clapham Junction station manager and asked him to call the emergency services. The first people on the scene to help were pupils and teachers from the nearby Emanuel School, who were later commended by prime minister Margaret Thatcher for their actions. Both trains were carrying around 1,300 passengers between them during the morning rush hour. Matthew Macaulay, 26, an information technician from New Zealand living in Clapham, south London, identified by a tattoo on his back. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Further Reading "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The first thing I saw was legs with jeans and shoes on. This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Clapham Junction rail crash article. We held a reception in the Parlour and I think that was very much appreciated. He had started a new job in Slough [30], The Basingstoke train stopped at the next signal after the faulty signal, in accordance with the rule book. But 11 years later, I was in the first ambulance to arrive at the Labdroke Grove Train Crash. Survivors had to be cut out of the tangled carriages before being transferred to St Georges Hospital in Tooting. In that incident, a pair of redundant points had been left in an unsafe condition and undetectable by the signalling system. It had made me realise how precious life is, says Lee, who now lives in Winchester. I was off duty that day, sleeping after night shifts. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations. 8.09am: The driver of the 7.18am Basingstoke to Watereloo train notices a signal near Clapham Junction change suddenly from green to red. The Clapham rail crash was the worst train accident of recent times. You can be a victim or you can be a survivor. John Northcott, 24, a graduate working in the IT industry, of Leyton, east London. It was discovered that he had only had one day off in the past 13 weeks and his work had not been supervised or inspected. Ola Bratlie, a 26-year-old telecommunications engineer. Shortly after 08:10,[2][3] the following train, the 06:30 from Bournemouth, made up of 4REP unit 2003 and 4TC units 8027 and 8015, collided with the Basingstoke train. To those nearby, it sounded like a bomb had gone off. He was visited in hospital in London by Mrs Thatcher, before being moved to Southampton General in time for Christmas. A third train, carrying no passengers and comprising 4VEP units 3004 and 3425, was passing on the adjacent line in the other direction and collided with the wreckage immediately after the initial impact. The driver of a fourth train approaching the crash site saw the wreckage and managed to come to a stop behind the other two trains at the signal which should have stopped the train to protect them. Another un-named 14 year old held a trapped passenger upright in their twisted seat for several hours before they could be freed. Information technology worker Elaine Kellow, 24, born in Venezuela, of Paddington, west London. #Disaster #Railway #HistoryLearn while you're at home with Plainly Difficult!In the morning rush our of the 12 December 1988, a crowded passenger train crash. Network Rail said the Waterloo crash was "a wake-up call". To make matters even worse a third train tore into the area moments later, smashing into the already tangled wreckage. Faulty wiring and an incorrect signal caused the 1988 crash at Clapham Junction Wreaths have been laid and a minute's silence held to remember the 35 people killed in a train crash in south. Links Stay well. [24], Testing was mandated on British Rail signalling work[25] and the hours of work of employees involved in safety-critical work was limited. Sure I could cut out some of the Information that is a bit laborious (Like a description of the Relay Room,, the Trains that passed the Signal previously I'd say could have been removed almost entirely) but the rest of it I'd say was completely fair. I saw all parts of the train flying into the airwe jumped over the railings and climbed into the train through a broken window. 6.30am: Passengers who usually catch the 6.14am Poole to London train have to get on at Bournemouth because of the previous nights disruption. Upon hearing the terrifying smash, teenagers far too young to witness the horror they were about to encounter scrambled down the slope to help. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. After hugging Ms Cotton at the wreath-laying event in Spencer Park, Battersea, Ms Robinson said: "When these things happen to you, you have a choice. A second service was also held at the memorial site, which was attended by train drivers and representatives of their union, Aslef. This document was published on 27th September 1989 by His/Her Majesty's Stationery Office. This is not a forum for general discussion of the article's subject. Bournemouth train driver John Rolls with wife Susan, His father Charlie told the Echo then: He was a go-ahead whizz kid. Survivors and relatives of the victims attended a service. Bournemouth East MP David Atkinson, British Rail chairman Robert Reid and Bournemouth mayor Cllr Jacky Harris were among those paying their respects. The married father-of-two was described as "extremely successful, very intelligent", who would always do what he could do help people. Hidden was critical of the health and safety culture within British Rail at the time, and his recommendations included ensuring that work was independently inspected and that a senior project manager be made responsible for all aspects of any major, safety-critical project such as re-signalling work. Thirty-five people were killed when two commuter trains from Basingstoke and Poole . Please consider donating to help with our running costs. The 31 victims identified A tribute is left for victim Derek Antonowitz, 25, near the crash site Thirty-one people died in the Paddington train crash. Sam Di Lieto, 24, of Russell Square, Bloomsbury, central London. Bless you, Robert. Ariel view of the crash site alongside Spencer Park, The young rescuers from the Emanuel School were praised by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and visited by the Secretary of State for Education who thanked them personally for Their immense courage and maturity.. It is approximately 2.71 miles from London Victoria station and around 3.93 miles from London. The tragedy, on this day 33 years ago . Although this Accident was a rather major incident on British Railways, the Wikipedia Article of which is rather lacking in the details given by Hidden's Report. This document is Crown Copyright, and is subject to the terms governing the reproduction of crown copyright material. Page contents not supported in other languages. Bill Webb, a 39-year-old accountant, died on an operating table after the accident. We were getting thrown around the carriage like rag dollsI heard crying and moaning I thought it was curtains for me., Lee found himself pinned beneath the wreckage, his gaze forced towards the clear winter sky which had been exposed after the carriage roof was, as another survivor put it, split open like a ripe tomato.. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Clapham rail crash victims remembered A two-minute silence has been held to remember 35 people who died in the Clapham rail crash 25 years ago. Editors' Code of Practice. He stops to call the signal box from the trackside. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Please see this explanation for further details. I never saw this article until now, but it was a good piece and was nice to see that it and he are still remembered. Management was to ensure that no one was working high levels of overtime,[20] and a senior project manager made responsible for all aspects of the project. She recalls the Clapham rail disaster coming just after she had launched an appeal for Armenian refugees following an earthquake there and just before the Lockerbie disaster. [32] A year later, a report into a collision at London Waterloo highlighted similar circumstances, saying that "some of the lessons from the 1988 Clapham Junction accident are fading from the railway industry's collective memory". The operator in the nearby Raynes Park electrical control room suspected there had been a derailment and re-configured the supply so that the nearby Wimbledon line trains could still run. He joined the railways at 15, becoming a driver in 1964. As a result, British Rail were fined 250,000 although many believed the company shouldve been prosecuted for Corporate Manslaughter. He recommended a reduction in working hours (staff had been working every day for weeks which inevitably leads to fatigue). Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, report last month found lessons learned in the disaster were being "forgotten", Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, Photo of Princess Charlotte shared as she turns 8, The 17 most eye-catching looks at the Met Gala, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests. Marilyn Robinson, 73, escaped the wreckage of the Basingstoke train with relatively minor injuries. Bosses from the emergency services and rail industry representatives also attended memorial events. If someone else can that would be very good. Juliet Groves, 27, an accountant from Shepherd's Bush, west London. Married caretaker Robert Cotton, 41, of Rednock School, Dursley, Gloucestershire, who also worked as a local councillor. As the train from Basingstoke was approaching Clapham Junction, the driver saw the signal ahead of him change from green ("proceed") to red ("danger"). I was in London a couple of months before this happened, and knew nothing about it. The Thames train driver, Michael Hodder, 31, a married father of two from Reading, Berks, was identified by his dental records. At 8.13am on Wednesday 12th December 2018, the train drivers union, ASLEF will be staging a two minute silence beside the memorial to mark the disasters thirtieth anniversary. List name. In 1989 a memorial to those who were killed and injured was unveiled on Spencer Park which overlooks the site of the tragedy. The full report in November said the direct cause of the accident was faulty wiring by signals technician Brian Hemingway. Survivors and families paid their respects to the dead and almost 500 injured people at a church service. [19], Critical of the health and safety culture within British Rail at the time,[19] Hidden recommended that unused signal wires needed to be cut back and insulated, and that a testing plan be in place, with the inspection and testing being done by an independent person. Latest Documents Footage found on a VHS. Survivors and families paid their respects to the dead and almost 500 injured people at a . Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, Photo of Princess Charlotte shared as she turns 8, The 17 most eye-catching looks at the Met Gala, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests. Mr Bowis said the boys from nearby Emanuel School were "impressive" in the way they came to help the injured, but added: "I'm very conscious that some very young eyes and minds were confronted with awful things.". Thank you, LondonCabbie! God bless you Richard, rest in peace .. 2023 BBC. Mr Bowis said the boys from nearby Emanuel School were "impressive" in the way they came to help the injured, but added: "I'm very conscious that some very young eyes and minds were confronted with awful things.". Heck, just above both mine and your Posts, you can see that I asked if somebody would have been kind enough to source it, but by the time I checked again, it was all removed, and I do understand that quite a bit of it WAS useless. ATP, which governs speeds and automatically stops trains at red signals, was deemed too expensive to install prior to rail privatisation in 1993. --2A02:C7F:A817:1E00:4C9C:11A0:D6F7:6B13 (talk) 20:09, 8 October 2016 (UTC)Reply[reply], Alrighty, this is for anyone who wants to read about the Article, but more especially for Tagish, the plan I have for the re-write of the Article is to slightly follow the Formula of the Article about the Abbots Ripton rail accident in that it gives a Rough Overview, explanation on the Geography, Signalling and the like, then the Accident in greater depth. ", 27th September 1989Investigation into the Clapham Junction Railway Accident, 2nd March 1992A Report of the Collision that Occurred on 8 January 1991 at Cannon Street Station. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. A third empty train ran into the wreckage shortly after, killing some passengers who had survived the first crash. Bryan Tompson, a 61-year-old freelance engineer from Ampney Crucis, near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, who leaves a wife, four children and six grandchildren. What was the outcome of the investigation? New to Wikipedia? A London-bound commuter train, travelling from Bournemouth, crashed into the back of another service near Clapham Junction. Hampshire. 2004 - 2023 railwaysarchive.co.uk - all rights reserved. Read about our approach to external linking. A BBC news report from the evening of December 12th 1988 detailing the catastrophe can be viewed below: Overall 35 people were killed and hundreds more injured in what became known as the Clapham Rail Disaster. Speaking at the memorial service today, he said: "I was one of the lucky ones. Monday December 1 Read about our approach to external linking. Transport Libraries The morning rush hour collision saw a crowded passenger train smash into the back of another train that had stopped at a red signal just short of Clapham Junction. Excessive working hours, cancellation of route-proving trains and lack of detailed planning were identified as contributory factors to the incident. Derek Antonowitz, a 25-year-old South Africa-born computer consultant from Willesden I'll try and make a better article soon-ish and get it to be relatively shorter then my previous attempt. The 'Hidden Report' into the causes of the collision south of Clapham Junction on December 12 1988, in which 35 people died. Prayers at the service mentioned the pupils of nearby Emanuel School, who helped treat the injured after the crash. We must always make sure that safety remains the number one priority on our railways. Clapham rail crash victims remembered Close It is 25 years since the Clapham rail crash, which left 35 people dead and hundreds injured. It established that the rewiring works, which had first been recommended in 1978, were under pressure to be completed and understaffed. Amidst the chaos, the walking wounded were able to tell some of the story. On the day, two commuter trains, carrying an estimated 1,300 passengers between them, collided just outside the station. Cyril Elliott, 41, a married management consultant from Beckenham, Kent, was identified from his dental records. The train drivers' union Aslef held a separate wreath-laying event and two-minute silence at the Spencer Park memorial at 08:13, to mark the exact moment the crash happened. Some of the walking injured were treated at nearby Emanuel School. Witnesses said they saw carriages thrown into the air and come crashing back down onto the tracks.