How snow caused a fatal train crash - Abbots Ripton Accident
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- In this video, we take a look at how dangerous snow can really on a railway, and what terrible things can come of a blizzard...
Please subscribe for more
This video falls under the fair use act of 1976 This video is available to use under the appropriate Creative Commons Licence.
Any images used that fall under any Creative Commons Licence belong to their respective owners.
An addendum to the GNR signals. They had only two aspects,[ home],white(clear),and red(danger),the distant signal was white( clear), and yellow( caution),with the blizzard conditions,the signals were frozen in place,as showing clear,[ if they could be spotted at all! Sterling's engines had an extremely poor excuse for a cab,and the snow was driven by very high winds! So the engine men,and signal men,were lucky that the disaster wasn't much worse,and having no continuous brakes didn't help matters! See LTC Rolt's and O.S Nock's books on Railway Accidents,as there is more detail,that was omitted,that bears on Abbots Ripton! Thank you for the forum,and I hope it fills in some gaps,and makes more information available! Thank you,again 😊!
All true. And the signal arm went into a slot in the signal pole at off. So the arms froze inside the slot. Another outcome was the beautiful but complex somersault signal invented by Mr French and used by GNR to overcome this risk. The signal arm was perfectly counterbalanced and the spectacle was separate. Victorian Railways were keen on somersaults too. This accident led to the end of white as clear and green became standard
“It wasn’t your fault Henry, Ice and snow caused the accident”
I was about to message that
I'm sending you to Crewe a fine place for sick engines
@@elshowdehugo2926 A video on Crewe scrapyard would be a idea for a vid.
"The signal was down, sir."
“Hurrah! Cried Henry that will be lovely”
Yeah, we all know this is what inspired the Flying Kipper accident, but can we acknowledge how both the books and show handled the severity of the incident?
In the book the accident is seen in a more comical light, Henry falls over onto his side, and the only real casualty was the cocoa of the goods train's fireman, despite the fact that both the footplate crew and the guard were in the brakevan when Henry crashed into it. Henry's crew was also fine, with the fireman only getting stuck in the snow.
In the show, while the crew and presumably the guard leave the van, we actually see the crash happen in real time, coupled with a somber and sharp score that had been building dread in the audience for a while. And then, when we see Henry after the crash, unlike the books, he looks beaten up, bruised, and completely drained of energy.
This all is meant to sell the idea that this is a real and deadly accident, and should be taken seriously. It's a tone that works better in the story (since Henry is damaged so much he is sent to be rebuilt), and for those who are interested in railways in general, because things like this do happen, and it hurts to see Henry doing so well until something out of his control causes a crash, just like the Abbots Ripton accident that inspired it.
I have to admit that both the book and film play down the human cost of the Flying Kipper smash. The book illustration even shows the brake van still being intact! Ringo Star says the driver and fireman 'got out just in time' but never mentions the guard, who would have stayed in the van (ASLEF vs NUR rulings) at his post, which you then see smashed to pieces.
Beats what Awdry originally intended for Henry: him being sick in earlier stories was meant to be an excuse to kill him off without showing it. Fortunately, children wrote to ask what had happened because they were worried about Henry. Not having the heart to tell her, he wrote a new book where he had a wreck that required a rebuild, instead.
I kind of want to look for that episode on YT and watch it, now. Never mind the fact that I am an adult!
@@jed-henrywitkowski6470 The show was originally made to be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in trains.
The Flying Kipper incident was less severe than the Abbots Ripton accident, less damage, only two trains involved (not a third plowing into the wreckage), freight trains rather than passenger so fewer people in danger, lower speeds, and as a result of all this no deaths or serious injuries. I could easily imagine numerous such incidents happened, all under similar circumstances to the Abbots Ripton disaster, but with circumstances and outcomes more like the Flying Kipper, so they aren't nearly as notable. Often times such incidents are generally overlooked, by historians looking back on it (as we are here, if you could call us that - the video presenter at least probably qualifies), as well as by people at the time. Many major disasters had more minor incidents, close calls, things that didn't hurt anyone or cause major damage, that people didn't think much of, but the same situation later allowed for a far more deadly disaster. Not until after the major disaster are rules changed, had they been changed after the minor incidents or close calls the big disaster could have been prevented. This is why close calls or minor incidents shouldn't be ignored just because nobody got hurt. They need to be analyzed to consider what the same hazard could have led to under different circumstances, the potential for a much more deadly outcome that effort needs to be taken to prevent. Close calls and minor incidents are a warning of what could happen.
Never heard of this before! I think it explains the name "The Flying Kipper" as a choice for the express fish train that Henry pulls. Awdry would have been well aware that older adults/enthusiasts reading the stories to their kids would have this incident on their minds. For us (I was born in 2000), the Flying Kipper definitely overtook its origin in fame!
Awdry wrote his story based on real life railway incidents, so that explains things.
The moment TOT mentioned Home Signals while talking about a snow accident; i knew it would be what inspired Henry's The Flying Kipper accident.
@@InfinityR319 My nephew is into Thomas the Train. And that makes me happy.
@@jed-henrywitkowski6470 Consider buying him “the complete collection” by Awdry, you’ll find it has a much more informative tone than the show!
@@InfinityR319 i thought the Kipper accident was to have Henry drawn as a Black 5 instead of random drawings
I love the calm, tranquil sound of “Snowy” playing in the background while he’s going into detail about how this tragic and highly fatal catastrophe occurred.
As has been said many times throughout history, safety regulations are written in blood.
And corpses. That's what it took to force railway companies to spend money on safety. Where the introduction of continuous braking is concerned there was also a dreadful accident in Ireland
As for the Rev Wilbert Awdry stories: Henry's crash when hauling the Flying Kipper triggers a strange metamorphosis from looking like a LNER engine to assuming an LMS appearance.
Now that you mention it, I can imagine Fascinating Horror covering this incident.
It's the story that inspired the flying kipper! I've been hoping you would touch upon this story! Great job as always!
Actually the crash that inspired the Flying Kipper was the crash that occurred at Lichfield station on 1st January 1946
I was starting to think this as I was watching
I knew it, it sounded so firmler
@@Jaidencharlotte actually I think both were inspirations for the flying kipper when you look up both accidents.
This story is giving me Flying Kipper flashbacks.
Pretty sure this is the story that inspired it.
The Full History of James is watching me as i watch this...
@@christophergarland7936 oh more than likely
Oh, I know why
@@christophergarland7936 true
TrainBoy did a video last year that spoke about this horrible accident and how it is connected to The Flying Kipper. However, I prefer this video because I've noticed more detail in this one!
I was gonna say something like this. You beat me!
@@RedJubilee They say great minds think alike. That's something I've noticed about the comments section, you have to be quick.
real life version of the Flying Kipper
The Great Northern signals were described as 'slotted post'. The signal arm would drop into the signal post, completely out of sight. This read all clear & was the 'default' indication. Snow and ice filled the post and locked the arm inside it. The signal could not physically by lifted to danger, and the weight of snow on the wire meant that even when the arm was freed it returned to clear. This accident led to the advent of 'somersault' signals, where the arm of the signal completely falls away from the post, and danger became the normal indication.
do more stories that inspired Thomas and friends
this story inspired the flying kipper story from Thomas and friends
the fat controller "cheer up henry It wasn’t your fault, Ice and snow caused the accident”
The snow came on really suddenly. The crew of a northbound (down) goods train at Alconbury, just prior to the accident had never seen flakes coming down so thickly or so heavily.
Snow can be trouble sometimes, but also ironically it helped to prolong the life span of some of the LSWR 700 Class 0-6-0 goods engines
Lower quadrant signals, which showed clear if they fell, and had to be raised to show danger, were always a lousy idea. Yet, even after this, they continued to survive in many areas. Indeed you still see them on heritage railways now - keep an eye out next time you're watching video of a heritage run. Upper quadrant signals, which showed danger if they fell, and had to be raised to show clear, were inherently much safer.
I love how you Euros are big on maintaining your historical infrastructure and architecture.
Though many LQ signals were still balanced in such a way that they would default to the danger position, as the spectacle plate, which is on the other side of the pivot, is much heavier than the arm.
@@RJSRdg That is true, as far as it goes. But when a LQ signal is in the safe position, its arm is on one side of the pivot, and the spectacle plate is on the other side of the pivot; whereas when a UQ signal is in the safe position essentially everything, arm and spectacle plate, is on one side of the pivot (the arm side, pushing towards danger). And in icy conditions, snow and ice sticking to the arm will exert more leverage, being further out from the pivot, thereby pushing towards the safe position for LQ but towards the danger position for UQ.
@@RJSRdg I was just thinking of that as a possible solution, counterweights of some sort so they will fail to the danger position. An advantage of that is that they could retrofit this safer design into existing signals and not have to change the signal conventions drivers are used to. But as kleedham points out, the longer and larger (even if not as heavy) plate will accumulate more snow than the smaller shorter counterweight, so snow could cause it to fail into the "clear" position. Perhaps a solution would be a counterbalance designed to accumulate snow on the far side as well, perhaps a similar (or identical) arm on the opposite side that is painted gray, has no influence on the signal except as a counterbalance. Or a lattice frame of some sort that is deliberately designed to accumulate more snow and ice than the arm it balances, so if that becomes a problem it will fail to a danger signal.
Another possibility would be to have a second set of linkages and cables that return from the signal itself to the signal box that indicates the actual position regardless of what position the handle is in, but that would be more complicated, all for something usually visible to the signalman. A simpler way of accomplishing the same thing, probably possible by this time, would be to have electrical switches connected to the arm itself that connect to indicator lights in the signal box. A lot of other devices have similar indicator lights to indicate if something is in the proper position, for example aircraft landing gear to show that it is down and locks engaged, even if they are controlled by mechanical levers.
Of course changing the signals to have up as clear and down as danger would be even more effective, but that would require a lot of re-training and involve a confusing transition era, so there are incentives to design something that looks the same. Eventually everything would change to lights instead of semaphores, which are a lot more fail safe in that when they fail they show no light rather than any erroneous indication, which I assume crews would regard as being at danger until communicating via radio that they are clear to proceed.
The problem is, the signals have a 'bi-stable' weight lower down the pole - designed to keep the signal at the fully travelled position whether up or down !
"Cheer up Henry, it wasn't your fault. Ice and snow caused the accident."
The Great Northern Railway used a Slotted Post SIgnal Design.Into which slot the Signal Arm would recess to indicate Line Clear. The Raised Position indicating the Next Section Occupied. The blizzard froze the arm fast in its slot or recess in the post and could not be operated. The Great Northern thereafter changed their Signal Design.
This channel is so high quality, I wish more people would watch it
A point not mentioned is that the Great Northern signals of the period fell into a slot in the post when lowered. They were returned to danger by a counterweight on the arm when the signalman returned the lever to "danger". It was found that the slot was prone to packing with frozen snow, so that the signal arm would not return to danger, and all these signals had to be replaced.
Leading sooner with the reference map might've been a little more helpful :)
Very helpful and informative nonetheless
"But the Home Signal was DOWN sir..."
At least three SPADs occurred due to signal failures, I'm glad LEDs can't freeze in place!
I think this was what inspired the Flying Kipper story in the RWS
I have always said that signals like that should have always been backwards (down danger, up clear) so that if there was anything wrong with the signal it would more likely be set to danger just in case
It's a good theory but does not live up to the design of the signals - due to the weight lower down the post - designed to keep the signal fully in either position !
Old Semaphore signals in the US worked like that: vertical was green/clear, 45 degree angle was yellow/caution, while horizontal was red/danger/stop.
In a case like this accident, where the weight of snow and ice buildup on the signal arm helped keep the signal in the clear position, a US Semaphore would have been set to danger instead, preventing this accident from occurring.
@@andrewlucia865 The UK had 2 standards. Horizontal was always danger and either up or down 'clear'. The majority were up for clear but some used down !
@@millomweb In that case, they were using the better system, as they wouldn't be vulnerable to the weight of snow or ice keeping the signal at clear. I was simply pointing out that semaphores in the US did that as well.
@@andrewlucia865 At least with semaphore signals, they can be read from the back !
great video
The Avalanche on the westside of the first Cascade tunnel in March 1, 1910 is worse than that 96-101 dead (probably one of the Great Northern Railroad's(U.S.) Oriental Limited train). At least it's not on Christmas Eve, like the Tangiwai wreck which Thunderbolt1000 already did a video talking about it.
Fascinating Horror released a really good video on the Tangiwai disaster a few days ago as well.
Plainly Difficult did it 3 months after your comment
Very interesting. It's odd to think that some parts of the UK still use lower quadrant signals (those that drop to clear) rather than upper quadrant (those that drop to danger) or colour light signals.
The surving lower quadrant signals have spectacle plates which are heavier than the arm (and on the opposite side of the pivot) so that they still default to the danger position.
@@RJSRdg True, but if they are weighed down by ice and snow, more will accumulate on the signal arm than the spectacle plate or counterweight, so this could still be a problem.
@@quillmaurer6563 won´t snow pile up on the counterweight, too?
@@siriusczech Some would, but if the counterweight is a smaller thicker chunk of metal counterweighing a large thin flat plate, the plate would have a lot more surface area for snow to accumulate on, especially the sticky sort of snow, or ice. So snow would accumulate on both, but more would accumulate on the arm, making it heavier. Unless the counterweight is specially designed to catch as much or more snow than the arm.
@@quillmaurer6563 Thanks. In my country we have only "pull up if free route" types (or, mostly, had, of course) and counterweights for anything (trolley wires, ropes, railroad gates) are mostly made out of bricks/concrete blocks, this would catch easily same or more snow than wires itself.
Therefore the only problem were with rare freezing rain, when even frequent trams in Prague were unable to proceed some ways due to insane buildup of ice on wires above them, rendering them unable to get enough power properly. After initial cleanup it was dealt in the end with driving "both pantograph up" using the first only as mechanical barrier and ice cleaner and the second one to obtain electric power, but that is a different story, though.
If it wasn't this accident, it was one very similar that caused the signalling regulations to change. After this they were required to fail safe. So the position of the arm at its lowest point became the danger aspect. If it was then weighed down by snow and ice, the train would be stopped rather than running through a clear aspect that could not be changed. This is the way signalling still works now, loss of power causes all signals to change to danger.
I still can't believe nobody thought the signals being weighed down could happen at any point in history. Had it been reversed-down for stop and up for go-it would've been much safer.
This is the inspiration for Thomas and friends episode the flying kipper
Off track here for a sec, but what music piece is this?
It’s a horrible shame really but at least the railways learned from this
Quite possibly this incident changed signal operation from 'down' = clear to UP = clear. Horizontal has always been 'danger'.
Of course, nowadays, most UK rail signalling has been downgraded to using just lights.
That event later becomes the inspiration for The Flying Kipper.
There was a death in the flying kipper of the guard in the breakvan.
The flying kipper...
Now I think I know where Awdry partially got his inspiration for The Flying Kipper, what with the Home Signal being held down due to heavy snow.
This is what in spired flying kipper
why does this Story sound like the straight inspiration for the Rev W Awdry's Railway Story, The Flying Kipper, when Henry the green engine accidentally goes through a danger signal, because ice and snow had forced the signals down, and the points had frozen. Then Henry crashes into a goods train in the siding.
Because it is
Never did understand the rationale of lower quadrant semaphore signals.
...so this incident is basically two SPADs at once?
the flying kipper was based on this story
They have chimneys, not funnels. They're not ships.
I think in the USA 🇺🇸 the term “smokestack” is widely used. Some designs were “straight” & some were “funnel” shaped
I suggest a topic about Metra`s Operation North Pole train they have set for children who are in hospitals. Best topic for Christmas, no?
The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore, not like they did back in 1954!
"go away im busy"
good job to that man
He committed manslaughter he died in prison for his negligence
on the plus side it gave us a wonderful episode of Thomas the Tank Engine
That crash was just like Henry's crash in "The Flying Kipper" from Thomas and Friends. Also, that Stirling Single looks just like Emily from Thomas and Friends.
That is because Emily, bless her little heart, is indeed a Stirling Single - one of the later series, with solid fronted driving wheel splashers. The earlier engines (like preserved No 1) had very elegant slotted splashers.
The snow can be a problem on the railroads but sometimes can be very thick and heavy like Dick Allenson told me
it was really ignorant and selfish for the station master to ignore those calls for help
I see where roller coaster safety features come from now.
Flying kipper intensifies
Can you discuss electric steam engines? They were unique as they were steam powered locomotives that had their fireboxes heated from electric wires via pantographss
I believe this is what inspired Reverend Wilbert Awdry to write The Flying Kipper
Cascading failure
do you know about the hawes junction rail crash? that created rule 55 i did upload the song about that rail crash by dave goulder
Pity global warming has caused less snow. (Not blaming steam for it in the slightest, as cars and power stations pollute the atmosphere). But at least it means less accidents like this one.
Omg it's Emily.
Have a nice day
Someone didn’t do their homework, it seems.
The Flying Kipper was based off of dis
I actually thought it said slow not snow
What's with humans and driving like lunatics when the weather is at its worst? XD
*plays ttte crash music*
2:19 I found Emily
That signalling explanation at the start was crap
Detonators?
clips on the track to stop trains from using a certain part of track. Birmingham New Street has some in platform 1
Was this before or after they were invented?
Its very rare for rail historians to talk about the Flying Scotsman Express because as far as popular media is concerned, it is directly related to the world-famous LNER steam loco of the same name
It’s no wonder why
After all the engine was named after the service
@@florjanbrudar692 not really,it's that people remember more of the locomotive then the train it was named after
@@davidantoniocamposbarros7528 I knew I would be wrong
@@davidantoniocamposbarros7528 Pretty much.
For the longest time i thought "The Flying Scotsman" was just the name of that two-tendered green engine that looks like Gordon. It wasn't until a few years ago that i learned The Flying Scotsman was the name of the SERVICE before the engine was named AFTER the service.
It's like if Gordon (Yes i grew up with Thomas, it's why i like trains) was named The Express, or Wild Nor Wester if you actually pay attention to the lore book side material.
Though quite often 4472 pulled it, many more a1/3s pulled it, and many years before the a1s and after the a1s it still ran, flying Scotsman isn’t the only engine to carry it
I live in Huntingdon and had never heard of this accident- very interesting so thank you for doing a video on it. Incidentally, Stukeley is pronounced more like Stuke-lee (to rhyme with Duke) rather than Stuck-a-lee, not that it matters too much.
I'm not from them parts but still noticed the mispronunciation !
I have a video idea: the „Rhein”, an engine that fell into the German Rhine River in 1852, not to be rescued to this day, (apparently they are on it)
they don't know where it is
@@flyer3849 they do, but the engine is buried under tons of gravel
Visiting a family-friend with my dad when suddenly he cracked a joke.
"One year the Rhein was so dry, the only boats moving on the river were the paddle-steamers - as they were the only boats with wheels."
Just in case you would like to rerecord your video (LOL) Stukely is pronounced Stook-Lee.
“Cheer up Henry, It wasn’t your fault. Ice and snow caused the accident…”
Henry sighed, knowingly that he had only seen two figures step out of the van, as opposed to three. But with the speed he was going at, and the severe weather conditions worsening visibility, Henry was unsure of how many people were in that brake van, if any had made it out at all….
I’m not a big fan if history but somehow history on steam engines is just so interesting
Check out Jago Hazzard's latest video on "Sans Pareil"
The Thomas story ‘Percy and the signal’ has always made me wonder what are backing signals and what do signals that point up mean. Would love to see a video addressing signals!
I would assume in reality a signal in an unusual position, not a standard position to indicate danger or clear, would indicate a malfunction. Should be treated as a danger signal but clarification sought rather than just waiting for a clear signal. A signal designed to fail into an unusual "signal failed" position would be better even than one that fails to danger. This is sort of the natural effect of modern signals that use lights instead of semaphores, if no lights are on the driver knows it's a malfunction rather than false indication of any sort.
I believe some semaphore signal arms go up because of incidents like this. That way, gravity forces it into the "danger" position.
Looks like Thomas’s hate for snow is justified.
Thomas doesn't dislike the snow, he hates his snowplough that's all.
Henry's is more relatable - he crashed in the "Flying Kipper" incident due to quite similar circumstances.
I believe the Rev. W. Awdry heard this story and was inspired to write the "Flying Kipper." Ice froze a set of points and the snow forced a signal down, showing "All Clear" instead of "Danger"
Fun fact: this is the exact story that inspired the flying kipper in Thomas the tank engine
I actually question that a little bit. I believe the Flying Kipper involved not only a signal indication effected by snow, but also frozen points, which this didn't involve. I'm guessing there were numerous incidents like this, though most were relatively minor consequences than this major disaster and thus forgotten.
@@quillmaurer6563 yeah there was another incident I think but this is the main one that inspired it
@@CurdsFromDaCulvers420 Casey Jones?
@@NightGaming_58 maybe I’m not totally sure but from what I’ve heard this story is the one that inspired the flying kipper
It is but the only difference between the two is the engineer of abbots accident survived but Casey didn't otherwise both great story's
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Steam locomotives look AMAZING in the snow
I've heard this event inspired 'The Flying Kipper' story.
yes it is
My father is a career truck driver (lorry driver, for you Brits).
Starting around WWII, trucking became a significant part of our logistics system and in the post-war years, it overcame railroading as the primary land-based way of interstate commercial transportation. Though, often the two industries are still very much interlinked, especially in the distribution of goods produced overseas and brought here via ship and the mining industry in North America.
With that said, snow is a hazard in many states, including NoCal, NoAz, and the high desert areas of SoAz, and NM.
Every year, there are multi-vehicle accidents (MVA) involving commercial vehicles, despite Federal and State Department of Transportation (DOT) laws, that can be so strict, that they adversely impact the industry and drivers, because of winter weather. And out west, even today one can be many miles from the nearest town or city, and consequently, help if it is needed.
Weather continues to be a problem for people no matter what they're doing. It's likewise probably the biggest cause of aircraft accidents, both for small planes and commercial airliners. Trains I would think are among the least weather-susceptible modes of transport, as well as being among the safest in all other regards. But even trains aren't immune, as this video discusses. In Denver, I think the light rail and commuter rail are probably one of the most reliable modes of transport in extreme weather, run frequently enough to keep the tracks clear and are less susceptible to getting stuck or slick conditions. However they too have a major vulnerability, their overhead wires can be unusable or even be damaged (or become damaged if it is attempted to use them) if they become covered in ice or in very high winds. Had some extreme winds like that a few days ago, they had to delay or suspend light rail service for that reason, using shuttle buses instead, which is a little scary as buses are big easily-toppled boxes. And of course all modes of transport are hindered by low-visibility conditions that make it difficult to see.
I have this feeling that this incident somewhat inspired the Flying Killed wreck from the Railway Series as the signal being forced down by the snow was also a contributer to that accident. Or maybe just coincidence but probably not.
*kipper not killed
It is! Awdry poured tons of real life inspiration in the railway series books. Just goes to show the man's enthusiasm for locomotives and railways
@@RyebuckCoppercap For me to actually here for the first time what must of inspired that infamous wreck is pretty cool.
@@PennsyPappas Yeah! It's pretty cool :3
From what I recall many other incidents in Thomas and Friends earlier seasons are based on real events!
The down the mine incident is one that I recall had a real life counterpart as well, as most of the skarloey railway events!
It's a big rabbit hole if you want to go deeper ;)
@@RyebuckCoppercap oh trust me I'm aware of how many incidents are based on real events as well as his own personal experiences on the Tallyclyn Railway (forgive if spelled wrong)
Theses stories are amazing, and better when you tell them! Thanks! Amazing video!
At what point did they stop making "fail ensured" into "fail safe"?
To me, it sound like complete madness to have the default state be "proceed" in an environment where proceeding is what kills people.
The default state should be "STOP" and operators default mindset should be "STOP" until they are absolutely certain it reads "proceed".
I've looked into this crash as part of an signalling assiment and the signals were Diffrent to the one show on the video, these signals only showed a danger aspect and was confind in the signal post itself when clear, because of the storm, the signal was frozen in side the post and couldn't show a danger aspect. This accident caused an act of parliament to inform/in-force signals to show both a danger, caution and a clear. This is still the case today, if a signal doesn't light up, the previes signal can't change aspect form danger
This is an advantage of light-based signals rather than semaphores. A light will fail to show no light of any color, which drivers know is a problem and treat as a signal as danger (I assume anyway), rather than any sort of false indication.
Fantastic Video reminds me of a shorter version of Signals to Danger.
I live right next to there, I had so many lessons on this at primary..
Oh this is the inspiration for the Flying Kipper story isn’t it
You've got the clear signal wrong. At the time of this accident the entire arm would be hanging vertically (no at 4t degrees down) in a slot in the post and a white light would be show (not a green light). The stop signal is correct.
Is this the inspiration for "The Flying Kipper"?
It also led to signals being kept at danger and only "cleared" when a train approached, thus reducing the chance of it freezing in the off (proceed) position.
Are you going to tell the story of the big storm of 1952 when southern pacific's city of san Francisco was trapped in donner pass by any chance?
Emily’s loco class pulling the Flying Scotsman Express? Hmmm...
Stirling singles were top link express locomotives - single driver engines were believed to run much more freely than coupled driving wheel locos in the 19th century. There was some justification for this; engineering wasn't always as precise as in later days so that rods and axle centres were often slightly out of alignment with one another. You get a hint of this in 'La Bete Humaine'; Lison, the locomotive is never as free running after the big smash as earlier in the novel.
Was the Scotsman being pulled by a Stirling single?
The down Leeds express was pulled by a Stirling 8-foot Single (GNR No.48) - this was the engine involved in the second collision. The Scotch Express, in the first collision with the coal train, was being worked by GNR No. 269. This was an engine originally designed by Sturrock as a 2-4-0 with 6ft driving wheels but which Patrick Stirling had rebuilt the year before the crash into a 2-2-2. So sort of a 'Stirling single' but not the famous 8ft 4-2-2 class.
The Flying Kipper
"The signal was down, Sir!"😪
I wonder how the guy who basicly said "fuck off, im busy" felt after hearing about the wreak caused after his countless ignoring
Probably some combination of horrified and rather pissed off at the other signalman for not sending the messages correctly.
The message was sent to the wrong place. Read the Signalman books by Adrian Vaughan. When Adrian became a signalman 80 years later he was told very severely, "If the line is blocked you tell the adjacent signal boxes first." Rather than using a telephone and chatting, they would immediately hammer out "Obstruction Danger" (6 bells) and all the signals would go to danger. Then the adjacent signal boxes would send a "Blocking Back" (3-3 bells) code to the next box. Then and only then should the signalman consider using the telephone.
I think it would be easier to specify which nation for specific railroad company Since Great Northern Railway, and Southern Railway is in both the UK and the U.S.
Is there a "flying scotsman" service in the US ?
Out of interest, ever thought of doing one of these on the subject of the Thorpe rail accident of 1874?
Quintinshill was a far worse train collision and very interesting , maybe do a video on that if you can
Good thing that modern equipment (if anyone bothered installing it) is meant to be impervious to weather, radio communication is a thing and in an emergency should be easy enough to warn drivers (counterexample would be Bad Aibling in Germany a few years ago) and there are rules about braking distance, emergency brake performance, crashworthiness and a whole slew of other measures aimed at making crashes impossible, thus we hopefully need some many issues at the same time to cause a wreck… although most of these protections are supposedly relatively easy to take out as an emergency measure (although if your schedule calls for a maneuver only possible under emergency operation that’s relatively easy to accomplish)… or if your standards are shitty enough, not even that matters (crazy eights could’ve gone a whole lot worse with another train closer or worse)…