DERAILMENT AT KENTISH TOWN

The accident report describes the incident of derailment of an empty freight train and the consequent collision with a passenger train. Cause of the derailment was due to part of the brake rigging on the leading bogie of the fourth coach striking and operating an economic facing point lock with the result that the trailing bogie and following coaches took the wrong route. Evidence showed that the trailing end of the brake pull rod of the coach had been dragging along the track during an overnight journey. The pin which should have secured the pull rod to the fulcrum lever was missing, and both safety loops were broken. An on duty coach examiner improvised safety loops of wire. Conclusions reached were: (1) the improvised safety loops were ineffective, (2) the examiner made error in judgment in not removing the brake pull rod completely from the bogie, or at least releasing the brakes on the coach before securing the pull rod, (3) failure of R.R. staff to detect broken safety loops indicates examination of the train was not adequate.

• Corporate Authors:

  Temple Press Limited

  161-166 Fleet Street
  Longon EC4,   England 
• Publication Date: 1967-12-15

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 959
• Serial:
  • RAILWAY GAZETTE
  • Volume: 123

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brake lines; Derailments; Freight trains; Maintenance personnel; Passenger trains; Railroad tracks; Railroad trains; Regulations; Safety; Technology
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Law; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00037254
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 13 1976 12:00AM