Where The Lines Meet - Bletchley station rail collision 1939

The Railway Heritage of Bletchley

TRAIN CRASH AT BLETCHLEY STATION
An Inquiry into the collision at Bletchley station on Friday 13th of October 1939, was conducted by Col A.H.L.Mount and LMS officials at the Conservative Club on Wednesday morning. Mr L B Shoppee (asst to operating superintendent) was asked to report the circumstances of the disaster. It appears that the 7.37 express from Euston to Inverness (consisting of 12 coaches) were standing in the station having arrived at 8.44pm. At 8.53 a shunter, which was attaching a coach to the rear of this train, was run into by the 7.50 express from Euston to Stranraer, which was booked to arrive at Bletchley at 8.56pm but was running three minutes ahead of time. Mr Shoppee described how the tender of the Shunter was forced upwards onto the platform, demolishing the waiting and refreshment rooms, and derailing both the engines of the incoming express. The two rear coaches of the stationary train and the one being attached were demolished.
The driver of the shunter, a Postman, a porter, and a member of the RAF were killed, and 32 passengers along with 8 employees were injured. The injured were taken to Northampton and Halton Hospitals. The passengers seriously injured were on the platform and not in either train. Originally it was thought that there were five fatalities as the leg of the postman in the wreckage was thought to be attached to another body, as it took several days to clear the wreckage. Trains were diverted onto the slow line during this time to reduce inconvenience. Mr F Barnes (carriage & wagon dept) reported that the tender of the shunting engine was forced onto the platform through the refreshment and waiting rooms, taking a goods van and brake van with it altogether around 120 tons in weight demolishing them completely. The impact caused collateral damage to the 7.50 express derailing it, despite it's brakes being hard on.
The driver of the 7.37 train from Euston, Mr W Freestone said he was running four minutes late when he arrived at Bletchley, he heard a crash, but his engine didn’t move. It was raining, but he could still see the signals through the mist, but only at close range. The fireman C Robertson said all the signals were green. The guard J Mackenzie was assisting the loading of the van onto the train, when he heard a "shout" then a crash, as the van floor appeared to rise, he jumped onto the platform, ran past the refreshment room, and rolled off to safety. The shout was only a few seconds before the crash, and was made by Inspector Nursaw, an action which he believed had saved many lives. All signal equipment was tested by Inspector Sambrook after the incident and found to be in order all working with the correct information although he agreed visibility may be a problem due to the poor weather conditions. As a result of the accident 54 yards of track had to be replaced. An inquest into the accident, and the four deaths was to be held in private on Monday 30th October.
The deceased were...... Irvin Butler, aged 50 Percy Geary, aged 49 Robert Montgomery, aged 31, Aircraftsman, identified by his passbook and uniform Earnest Clements, aged 52 Expressions of sympathy were given by all the organisations present.

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