Coppenhall Junction railway accident
On the evening of 26 December 1962, cold weather and snow in and around Crewe had caused points to become frozen and trains were being detained at signals. About midway between Winsford and Crewe, the 13:30 Glasgow Central to London Euston Mid-Day Scot, hauled by an English Electric type 4 diesel, with 13 coaches and 500 passengers, was stopped at a signal but the driver found the telephone to Coppenhall Junction, the next signal box ahead, out of order. Seeing the next signal ahead he decided to proceed down towards it and use the telephone there, but too fast.[1] In the darkness he failed to notice the 16:45 express from Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street, hauled by an electric locomotive with eight coaches with 300 passengers, standing on the line ahead and collided with it at about 20 mph (32 km/h).[1]
| Coppenhall Junction rail crash | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Date | 26 December 1962 18:01 |
| Location | Coppenhall Junction, Cheshire |
| Coordinates | 53.1684°N 2.4778°W |
| Country | England |
| Line | West Coast Main Line |
| Operator | British Railways |
| Cause | Signal passed at danger |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 2 |
| Passengers | ~800 |
| Deaths | 18 |
| Injured | 34 |
| List of UK rail accidents by year | |
The collision killed 18 passengers; 33 other passengers and one railwayman were seriously injured.[1] All these casualties were in the two rear coaches of the Liverpool train, which were telescoped after a coupling fractured.[1][2]
References
- McMullen, Col D (1963). Report on the Collision that occurred on 26th December 1962 between Winsford station and Coppenhall Junction in the London Midland Region of British Railways (PDF). London: HMSO for the Ministry of Transport.
- Rolt, LTC (1976) [1955]. Red for Danger. London: Pan Books.