Railway Forum - 37 smash on GCR

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I was talking to someone I know who works at the GCR how told me he had been spending most of the day doing paper work on a report after being called in from he's holiday. After a smash on the main line

Don't know the full story but the 37 is in a very bad state and a rake of couches are the worst for it. Serious consideration is ongoing about the 37 and the frist couch are repairable. Does anyone have any more information on what happened.

Got my copy of Steam Railway today, and there was a report of this incident. Details are sketchy because of ongoing RAIB investigation, but what has been revealed so far is this:
Network Rail owned class 37 37198 had been shunting at Quorn on May 12th, a day that the railway was not operating a public service. At the end of this shunting, 37198 was left coupled to TPO coach No. W80301, and had been chocked, apparently because English Electric locos are known to have weak handbrakes.
However, somehow the loco ran away and travelled downgrade for 2 miles to Loughborough, propelling the TPO. Just south of Loughborough station at around 12.30pm, the runaway class 37 & TPO collided 'at speed' with a rake of BR Mk1s stabled just outside the station, causing considerable damage to the TPO including one of the bogies being sheared off.
No details yet of the extent of the damage to the 37, the rake of Mk1s or any infrastructure.
Luckily, no injuries as the railway was not running that day.

Tony

There is no point in speculation about how, or why, but preserved railways (in general) do not need bad press like this.:(

Sure it had nothing to do with the filming for a scene in casualty?

Thanks Wyvern, that explains what happened. Shame really, we don't need this!
Glad no one was hurt though.
All the best
Phil

Yet again these coaches have been subject of people playing trains.
I have over 28 years of shunting with coaches and Class 37s, in pit yards and other sidings, and never had a problems like the GCR seem to have on a regular basis.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HM181 (Post 80875)

I'm inclined to agree with you on this one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAIB report

At around 11:50 hrs, the train was left unattended on the down main line opposite Quorn signal box (still within the possession). At this location the line has a 1 in 330 gradient.

Evidence suggests that, before leaving the train unattended, the crew applied the locomotive’s air brakes, shut-down its engine and applied a single wheel scotch underneath one of the locomotive’s wheels. Neither of the two parking brakes on the locomotive were applied .

So according to RAIB's preliminary finding.....fundamentally a loco was left unattended on a gradient with (eventually) just a single scotch to hold it. There may have been a good reason why the crew had to shut down the engine and didn't or couldn't apply the parking brakes....but you just don't walk away from a train that isn't screwed down properly. If there weren't any more scotches available then a competent person should have stayed with it.

As always the Good Book tells us how it should be done.......

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rulebook Section TW

36.2 Traction unit left unattended
You must only leave your traction unit unattended when you are:
• handing it over to another competent person who is to take charge of it
• stabling the traction unit in either a depot, siding or other authorised place
• required to leave your traction unit unattended as instructed in the rules.
Each time you leave your traction unit unattended, you must make sure it is properly secured.

I saw the "after event" photos in the latest magazine, and though it is yet another silly preventable accident, at least no one was hurt. (this time).
As you point out Beeyar Wunby the rule books are there for a reason!!
Cheers
Phil