Ealing rail crash
Encyclopedia
The Ealing rail crash was an accident on the English railway system that occurred on 19 December 1973. The 17:18 express train
from London Paddington to Oxford
—with approximately 650 passengers on board—was derailed while travelling at around 70 mph (31.3 m/s) between Ealing Broadway
and West Ealing
. Ten passengers were killed and 94 were injured.
The locomotive, Class 52
diesel-hydraulic number 1007 Western Talisman, had spent the previous night at Old Oak Common depot
and had had its batteries
recharged. A door on the battery box had been left unlocked and fell open shortly into the journey. It hit the platform at Ealing Broadway, breaking the arms supporting it and allowing it to swing down and hit a point
operating machine. The points moved under the locomotive, throwing it onto its side and derailing the coaches, which came to rest across the tracks.
Express train
Express trains are a form of rail service. Express trains make only a small number of stops, instead of stopping at every single station...
from London Paddington to Oxford
Oxford railway station
Oxford railway station is a mainline railway station serving the city of Oxford, England. It is about west of the city centre, northwest of Frideswide Square and the eastern end of Botley Road, and on the line linking with . It is also on the line for trains between and Hereford via...
—with approximately 650 passengers on board—was derailed while travelling at around 70 mph (31.3 m/s) between Ealing Broadway
Ealing Broadway station
Ealing Broadway is an east-west National Rail and London Underground station in Ealing in west London. The station is located in Haven Green , at the termination of The Broadway, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.-Services:...
and West Ealing
West Ealing railway station
West Ealing railway station was opened in 1871 as "Castle Hill and Ealing Dene" on the Great Western Railway, which was constructed from Paddington through Ealing to Bristol in 1836-8....
. Ten passengers were killed and 94 were injured.
The locomotive, Class 52
British Rail Class 52
British Rail assigned Class 52 to the class of 74 large Type 4 diesel-hydraulic locomotives built for the Western Region of British Railways between 1961 and 1964...
diesel-hydraulic number 1007 Western Talisman, had spent the previous night at Old Oak Common depot
Old Oak Common TMD
Old Oak Common TMD is situated to the west of London, in Old Oak Common. The Traction Maintenance Depot is the main facility for the storage and servicing of locomotives and multiple-units which utilise Paddington Station. The depot codes are 'OC' for the diesel depot, and 'OO' for the carriage shed...
and had had its batteries
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
recharged. A door on the battery box had been left unlocked and fell open shortly into the journey. It hit the platform at Ealing Broadway, breaking the arms supporting it and allowing it to swing down and hit a point
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
operating machine. The points moved under the locomotive, throwing it onto its side and derailing the coaches, which came to rest across the tracks.