47757 “Capability Brown” at Ais Gill Viaduct with a Virgin WCML Diversion
47757 "Capability Brown" is seen in charge of a Virgin Trains southbound Glasgow London on February 7 2004.
Just beyond the footbridge behind the train is the site of the Ais Gill collision which occurred at approximately 3.00 on the morning of September 2nd 1913. Two express trains were involved, One was an up Glasgow to Saint Pancras express sleeper, comprising nine coaches, which had left Carlisle at 1.35 am; This was followed 14 minutes later by a six coach sleeper from Edinburgh. The driver of the first engine had struggled to maintain steam pressure on the climb to the summit and was running 10 minutes behind schedule when he passed the box at Mallerstang. Just half a mile from the summit the engine lost power and came to a halt. When the second train came into the Mallerstang section the signalman wrongly believed that the driver had seen the warning on the distant signal and had slowed down and lowered the home signal, allowing the train to run up to the starting signal. As the second express passed the signal box the signalman realised to his horror that instead of slowing down the train was steaming at full speed. Both the driver and the fireman completely missed the signal position and crashed into the rear of the stalled train in front of them at full speed, demolishing the rear coach and the first section of the second one, whilst severely damaging its own leading coach. Fire broke out and 14 passengers lost their lives at the scene, with a further two passengers succumbing to their injuries later on. The subsequent inquiry found fault with the crew of the first train for not protecting the rear of the train and fault with the second train crew for missing the signal warnings.
47757 “Capability Brown” at Ais Gill Viaduct with a Virgin WCML Diversion
47757 "Capability Brown" is seen in charge of a Virgin Trains southbound Glasgow London on February 7 2004.
Just beyond the footbridge behind the train is the site of the Ais Gill collision which occurred at approximately 3.00 on the morning of September 2nd 1913. Two express trains were involved, One was an up Glasgow to Saint Pancras express sleeper, comprising nine coaches, which had left Carlisle at 1.35 am; This was followed 14 minutes later by a six coach sleeper from Edinburgh. The driver of the first engine had struggled to maintain steam pressure on the climb to the summit and was running 10 minutes behind schedule when he passed the box at Mallerstang. Just half a mile from the summit the engine lost power and came to a halt. When the second train came into the Mallerstang section the signalman wrongly believed that the driver had seen the warning on the distant signal and had slowed down and lowered the home signal, allowing the train to run up to the starting signal. As the second express passed the signal box the signalman realised to his horror that instead of slowing down the train was steaming at full speed. Both the driver and the fireman completely missed the signal position and crashed into the rear of the stalled train in front of them at full speed, demolishing the rear coach and the first section of the second one, whilst severely damaging its own leading coach. Fire broke out and 14 passengers lost their lives at the scene, with a further two passengers succumbing to their injuries later on. The subsequent inquiry found fault with the crew of the first train for not protecting the rear of the train and fault with the second train crew for missing the signal warnings.