eltham well hall train crash

The last station the train passed on its journey that Atterbury had to time was at Bexleyheath railway station 4.3miles east of the accident site. He made recommendations that booking-on of drivers by telephone should be controlled carefully, but did not recommend any changes to warnings of permanent speed restrictions. After arrival at Margate, the train was stabled at Ramsgate. The Eltham Well Hall rail crash was an accident on the British railway system that occurred on 11 June 1972 at approximately 21:35. Stokes was uncertain on this point but agreed that "Bob could have got one in". Pictures by my father, Reg Godsave. SYND 12-6-72 AFTERMATH OF ELTHAM TRAIN CRASH - YouTube All witnesses who saw the driver including the guard, the station staff at both Rainham and Margate, and the depot staff at Ramsgate, observed no signs of intoxication. The guard told the inquiry that after leaving Rainham he had noticed that the train's speed has been "a little bit excessive" and that the driver braked intensely between Gillingham and Chatham. Press Association. Having left Margate eight minutes late and scheduled to run non-stop (aside from a later stop to change crew), Wilsdon was able to run the train at high speed and according to Atterbury's timings, was only a minute late after passing Faversham (24miles from Margate). Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, Railway accident : Report on the Derailment that occurred on 11 June 1972 at Eltham (Well Hall) Station in the Southern Region, British Railways, Accident at Eltham Well Hall on 11th June 1972. This travel time and distance between Rainham and Hither Green played a key role in the accident that occurred.[2]. After the crossing was cleared, he set the route for the train to proceed but instead, the train came to a stop at the platform. The name "Well Hall" derived from that of a former Tudor mansion, which resided on a site surrounded by a moat, located 160-yards north of the station. Railman Akehurst, who had heard the derailment, immediately called Dartford signal box and reported the derailment. The pair had three pints of light and bitter each with Wilsdon possibly drinking another half pint of light ale, according to the evidence of club staff who served him. Another steam-era system to go was the mechanical signalling, semaphores and the cabin going out of use on 14th March 1970, when four-aspect colour lights, controlled from a temporary panel at St Johns, came into use. Well Hall was located exactly nine miles from Charing Cross upon an 86-chain curve, descending at 1 in 120 in the London direction. June 11, 1972. In the background can be seen the structures of the replacement station, today's "Eltham", taking shape. This took the platforms beyond the bridge which carried the running lines over Well Hall Road, and a new entrance was opened between the latter and the stations down platform, by means of a staircase upon the embankment. Apr 2, 2017 - Eltham Well Hall Rail Crash. Initial reports suggest a person was hit by a motorbike. The driver of the Excursion train was Robert Wilsdon, a Driver for British Rail's Southern Region based at Hither Green TMD since December 1961. He later claimed to a representative from the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen that he would not drink again. The train passed through at high speed without braking and sped into the curve at around 65 miles per hour (105km/h). His colleague was similarly promoted but resigned in early 1963 after a series of reprimands and suspensions. Places time Forgot London Bus East London London Areas Old Well Hall Bus Station 1970's J Michele Janes Eltham History Exactly where the pair went in this period is unknown owing to Wilsdon's death and Stokes having little recollection of the events after leaving Ramsgate and although another pub was close to the station, it was considered that neither had time to reach it.[2]. The rear of the coach had been somewhat damaged by the fifth, sixth and seventh coaches passing by it, derailed but still on the track. 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". The "down" platform was equipped with a timber shelter sporting a backward-sloping curved roof; happily, an example of this design is still in use today at Welling. 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". Further Reading Well Hall Road had accommodated a tramway route until July 1952, when all such services within London were withdrawn. At 19:45 they met with the guard and drove the train to Margate to receive the passengers. injuries= 126The Eltham Well Hall rail crash was an accident on the British railway system that occurred on 11 June 1972 at approximately 21:35. Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is Copyright 2009-2022, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Please see this explanation for further details. The driver of the Excursion train was Robert Wilsdon, a Driver for British Rail's Southern Region based at Hither Green TMD since December 1961. ASLEF sided with Wilsdon and General Secretary William Evans sided with Wilsdon. Between the footbridge and the new station structures, on the left, can just been seen the exit from the "down" platform to Well Hall Road. The curve at Eltham has a speed limit of 20 miles per hour (32km/h), but according to eyewitness accounts, the train entered it whilst travelling at about 65 miles per hour (105km/h). The last train to call at Eltham Park and Well Hall stations was the 23:43 Charing Cross to Dartford. Pin on Eltham and Environs - Pinterest The crash happened at around 3.30pm today (May 23). Date: 1972 Reference: 778393i Pictures About this work Publication/Creation [London] : Press Association, 1972. It also meant that his Supervisors at Hither Green would not see him in person. A post-mortem examination of Wilsdon showed that he had a blood alcohol level of 0.278% (the legal limit for driving a road vehicle is 0.08%). Well Hall station will be partially covered by the new Rochester Way relief road. The curve had a maximum permitted speed to be taken at 20mph but the train was estimated to have been travelling at 65mph resulting in the locomotive and all but one of the ten carriages derailing. The cause of the crash was concluded to be intoxication of the driver. Further Reading An excursion train from Margate to Kentish Town derailed on a sharp curve at Eltham Well Hall station, Eltham, London. 47048), came off the rails. 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. Well Hall Road, which is one of the key arterial roads between Eltham and Woolwich, is blocked near the junction of Arsenal Road. The first coach followed the overturned locomotive but remained upright, the coupling failing quite late into the sequence. This travel time and distance between Rainham and Hither Green played a key role in the accident that occurred.[2]. He used the correct telephone and spoke quite clearly and was not at all slurred according to both Fleming and Obee. Eltham Well Hall rail crash - YouTube This evidence contradicts that of Wilsdon's brothers who claimed that he had not drunk between 14:02 and 17:15. Well Hall, Eltham, train crash, 1972: an injured train driver being However, this evidence was contradicted by a later statement made by Secondman Stokes that when they met at Ramsgate, Wilsdon told Stokes that he had "ended up going somewhere and drinking some sherry". Trying to gain Wilsdon's attention, he made two light applications ("splashes") of the guard's brake. Railman Akehurst, who had heard the derailment, immediately called Dartford signal box and reported the derailment. On the Dartford Loop Line via Sidcup existed Eltham & Mottingham station; this was subsequently renamed plain Mottingham on 1st October of the same year. 125 passengers were injured. Stokes recalled that when Wilsdon turned to speak with him, he "smelt something pretty strong" on the driver's breath and when asked, Wilsdon explained that he had been drinking at lunchtime and later had some sherry prior to arriving in Ramsgate. Emergency services were notified, and arrived between 21:40 and 21:42. Guard Atterbury was not criticised whatsoever for his behaviour and it was considered unfortunate that his "splashes" were too weak to gain Wilsdon's attention. A second trailing crossover between the running lines had been installed 50-yards east of the platforms, and the goods yard acquired a further two sidings and a shed (although, as per that at Bexleyheath, rails did not pass through it). Approaching Eltham Park he became so concerned at the speed that he made two quick applications of the vacuum brake to try to draw the driver's attention, but before he could get a reaction it was too late. This caused both coaches to overturn onto their right side, with the leading end of the second coach coming to a stand in front of the locomotive and the rear of the first coach, which in combination with the fourth coach, formed an "N" shape with the first four coaches. Upon completing his phone conversation, Wilsdon returned to his cab and departed having been stopped at Rainham for about four minutes. Again, he was off-duty at the time and the British Rail was not informed of this occurrence until April. Eltham Well Hall train crash; Statements. An excursion train from Margate to Kentish Town derailed on a sharp curve at Eltham Well Hall station, Eltham, London. Wilsdon met with his secondman, a youth of 18 years, there. 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 last recommendation that Robertson made regarding the accident was the usage of telephone to sign on duty within the Southern Region. The Inspecting Officer, Colonel J.R.H. The crew left the cab for a few minutes and as a result the train departed from Margate eight minutes late. Contributions The driver Robert Wilsdon and five passengers were killed, and 126 people were injured. Most Wanted Stokes was unable to recall much of what occurred at Margate and Wilsdon died, so it was uncertain as to what had occurred during this period, and although a pub was close to the station, it was considered that they did not have enough time to reach it. Despite his experience and long time working on the railways, Wilsdon had been reprimanded five times throughout his career. Compliments. By 1908, Well Hall had acquired a footbridge between the platforms, east of the main building and waiting shelter. On the morning of 14th November 1944, a V2 rocket impacted a site on Sherrard Road, just 80 yards to the south of Well Hall stations main building. The eighth coach was upright but derailed, the ninth coach was derailed at its leading bogie but also upright, and the tenth coach (in which Atterbury had been riding) was upright and on the rails, though some internal damage had occurred. This occasion aside, the station survived the war years intact. All of the coaches were Mark 1 rolling stock with the oldest coach dating back to 1954 and the newest coach dating to 1962.[2]. The second and third coach followed the first coach until relatively late into the derailment, with the coupling between the first and second failing around the end of the derailment. Both brothers confirmed that he had not drunk after leaving the pub and were adamant on this point at the later public inquiry. instance of. Lessons learned from Cannon Street crash - Rail Stokes was 18 years old and had been working on the railways for almost two years at the time of the accident, having been based at Hither Green this entire time. A small goods yard was situated behind the London end of the "up" platform, comprising two sidings, one of which terminated at a "dock" platform. The station building was located on the London-bound platform and was a familiar SER design, being a single-storey timber structure with a hipped slated roof, the main part of which was 60-foot length . This document was kindly sourced from Harry Knox and is in our Accident reports collection. Apr 2, 2017 - Eltham Well Hall Rail Crash. The front of the cab was torn open and debris thrown and 'ploughed' inside, killing Wilsdon and severely injuring Stokes. RSS Feeds Computations later proved that the driver had apparently shut off power where required, but had not made a brake application. Before he could go ask superiors as to where they were, he saw Stokes and Wilsdon return. In contrast, Stokes claimed that Wilsdon mentioned drinking some sherry when they met at Ramsgate. Eltham Well Hall Rail Crash. June 11, 1972. Pictures by my - Pinterest Although it was agreed that the signalling played no part in the collision, it was later agreed that the signals around Eltham Well Hall would be redesigned to slow a train to round the curve rather than remain at green, which would mean it would be less likely a driver would be caught by surprise with the curve. He had been working on the railways since 1958 and was experienced to drive the British Rail Class 47 locomotive, which would occasionally come down from trains in other regions. Eltham Well Hall rail crash | owlapps Eltham Well Hall rail crash a train derailedderailed on a sharp curve at Eltham Well Hall stationEltham (Well Hall) derailmentLondon-bound train came off the track The Eltham Well Hall rail crash was an accident on the British railway system that occurred on 11 June 1972 at approximately 21:35.wikipedia 47Related Articles [filter] 1973 . Owing to the large number of day-trippers booked for this customary annual works-outing, a pair of excursion trains were laid on to transport them to Margate and back. Temporary public electric workings operated down all three routes between 10th and 16th May 1926 inclusive, as a result of the General Strike, steam-hauled passenger trains briefly resuming afterwards. In 1927, yet another renaming occurred, the Southern Railway designating the site as Eltham (Well Hall) from 26th September. According to them, the three returned home and spent the afternoon indoors with the children until Robert was driven by one of his brothers to Rainham station at around 17:15. Having left Margate eight minutes late and scheduled to run non-stop (aside from a later stop to change crew), Wilsdon was able to run the train at high speed and according to Atterbury's timings, was only a minute late after passing Faversham (24 miles (39km) from Margate). Of these penalties, three were fairly minor isolated offences (unauthorised absence in October 1960, persistent lateness in February 1961 and a "relatively minor driving offence" in February 1963) but two were serious offences, one of which resulted in a temporary suspension. Computations later proved that the driver had apparently shut off power where required, but had not made a brake application. 0 references. On a cloudy but dry evening, shortly before dusk and in good visibility and running under clear colour light signals over a route with easily identifiable landmarks, the driver failed to take any braking action to reduce his train's speed on the steeply falling gradient through Eltham Park to Eltham (Well Hall) in preparation for its entering the 12 chain radius right hand curve just beyond Well Hall station, the speed round which is permanently restricted to 20 mph. This did not occur, and the two met up at Ramsgate Depot by the locomotive at around 18:25. Statistics Investigating this theory, the morning after the accident, the cab was searched and three smashed glasses were found in the cab's wreckage.

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