On This Day in 1960, Settle Train Crash

On this day in 1960, in the early hours of 21 January, a serious railway accident occurred near Langcliffe on the Settle–Carlisle line in northern England when two trains collided, killing five people and injuring eight others. The 9:05 p.m. express passenger train from Glasgow St Enoch to London St Pancras was hauled by BR Standard Class 7 locomotive No. 70052, Firth of Tay. As the train descended from Ais Gill summit in severe winter conditions, the crew became aware of a repeated knocking noise coming from the locomotive’s motion. The driver slowed the train and later stopped at Garsdale in gale-force winds and snow to examine the engine, but was unable to identify the cause and decided to continue southwards, believing the train was running at a reduced speed.

Unbeknown to the crew, parts of the locomotive’s right-hand motion assembly had already become loose and detached during the journey. As the express approached Settle at about 1:48 a.m., these components struck the track and ballast, throwing up sparks and stones. The driver then made a full brake application. At that moment, a goods train of around 20 wagons, hauled by an LMS Class 5 locomotive, was passing in the opposite direction on the adjacent line.

The sudden braking and mechanical damage led to the derailment of the goods locomotive and several of its leading wagons, which were forced into the side of the express. The impact tore out the sides of the first three passenger coaches and caused damage to the remainder of the train. There were about 75 passengers on board the express. Five people were killed and eight others were injured, while the guard of the goods train was also injured. Emergency services responded in extremely difficult weather conditions, and the line remained closed for several days while the wreckage was cleared and repairs were carried out.

The subsequent official inquiry concluded that the accident was caused by inadequate maintenance of the locomotive hauling the express. The slide bar nuts securing the motion assembly had not been properly tightened, allowing the assembly to work loose and eventually detach. These nuts had previously been recognised as difficult to access and troublesome on locomotives of this class. Following the inquiry, modifications were made to the design and maintenance procedures to reduce the risk of a similar failure occurring again.