On This Day in 1983, Wrawby Junction Train Crash

Today marks the anniversary of the Wrawby Junction rail crash, which occurred on 9 December 1983 near Barnetby station in North Lincolnshire, England. At approximately 18:18, a freight train collided at low speed with a local passenger train, causing the first carriage of the passenger train to derail and overturn. One passenger was killed and three others were injured in the accident.

The collision occurred when a set of points, known as No. 89, was manually operated by railway staff following a track circuit failure that prevented normal resetting. After the points were moved by hand, the indicator lights in the signal box failed to display correctly, showing that the signalling system was not functioning properly. The freight train, which was working a service from Drax power station to Lindsey Oil Refinery, had been brought up to a signal at danger but was given a green hand-signal by the signalman to proceed. Believing the route ahead was clear, the freight driver began to move forward.

At the same time, a two-carriage passenger train departing from Barnetby station approached the junction. Its driver stopped at the home signal, which was also at danger, but then moved forward slowly after seeing the same green hand-signal, intending to reach the signal box for further instructions. Unbeknown to the crews, the manually set points had reverted to their original position, directing the freight train onto the track occupied by the passenger train.

The freight train struck the side of the passenger train, causing the first carriage to derail and overturn. A 19-year-old passenger, Rachel Taylor, was killed instantly, while three other passengers sustained injuries. Despite the low speed of the collision, the impact caused significant damage to the front carriage of the passenger train.

An investigation by the HM Railway Inspectorate concluded that the accident was caused by railway staff failing to secure the manually adjusted points correctly. The report noted that the signalman may have inadvertently operated the lever in the signal box, returning the points to their previous position. The freight driver was also found partially at fault for failing to stop at the signal box to receive further instructions after being given the hand-signal.

The Wrawby Junction crash remains a reminder of the importance of proper signalling procedures and careful adherence to railway safety protocols. The incident highlighted the potential consequences of human error in conjunction with mechanical failures, and the lessons learned from that evening continue to inform railway safety practices.