OFF THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW
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CASTLECARY - 2744 GRAND PARADE - Gresley LNER Class A1 4-6-2 - built 08/28 by Doncaster Works - 12/37 withdrawn after Castlecay accident - seen here at Doncaster Works after the accident.
On December 10th, 1937, at 1637, the 1603 Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street express train collided at Castlecary station with the late-running 1400 express train from Dundee to Glasgow Queen Street on the Edinburgh to Glasgow main line of the LNER, killing 35 people. At the time of the accident, whiteout conditions prevailed due to a snowstorm. The Edinburgh train hit the rear of the standing Dundee train at an estimated 70 mph. Due to the confines of the location, the rear four coaches of the Dundee train were completely disintegrated. The engine of the Dundee train, LNER Class D29 no. 9896 DANDIE DINMONT, was pushed forward 100 yards with the brakes on. The locomotive of the Edinburgh train, LNER Class A3 no. 2744 GRAND PARADE was damaged beyond repair (and was replaced by a new engine with the same number and name in April 1938). The death toll was 35 (including 7 train crew) and 179 people were hurt, most of them seriously. An eight-year-old girl was counted as missing. The driver of the Edinburgh train was committed to court on a charge of culpable homicide for supposedly driving too fast for the weather conditions, but the charge was dropped. The Inspecting Officer concluded that it was the signalman who was principally at fault for the disaster. The whiteout meant that visibility was no more than a few yards and so the signalmen on this stretch of line were operating Regulation 5e. This meant that a double section had to be clear ahead for a train to be signalled to pass the previous box, Greenhill Junction. A set of points ahead had been blocked by snow and caused several trains to back up and the Castlecary home signal was therefore at 'danger'. The Dundee train ran past that signal in poor visibility but managed to stop just beyond it. The Castlecary signalman failed to check the train’s whereabouts and allowed the following Edinburgh train into the section. This also ran past the same signal and collided with the Dundee train. It is believed that the Castlecary distant signal had stuck in the 'off' ('clear') position and so the drivers of both trains took it that the line was clear. The driver of the Edinburgh train only realised that it was not when he crossed the viaduct and saw that the home signal was at 'danger'. Even a modern-day car would not have stopped in the remaining 50 yards to the tail lamp.