eaw015599 ENGLAND (1948). The Wath Road Junction Derailment, Wath Upon Dearne, 1948

View of the derailment on the day after the crash, with a large crowd of onlookers

From Railways Archive:

'"The 11.45 am. Down Express Passenger train from St. Pancras to Bradford, comprising 12 coaches hauled by two engines, was travelling on the Down Passenger line at a speed of 60 to 65 m.p.h. when the engines and eight coaches became derailed on a 30 ft. embankment. The alignment was straight, but the track had become distorted due to rail expansion caused by the sun's heat.



The Express was only carrying 194 passengers since a crowded Relief train with the bulk of the travellers had left St. Pancras 15 minutes earlier. I regret to report, however, that six passengers were killed and one passenger and one Railway servant, Driver B. Wilshire in charge of the train engine, died of their injuries ; 33 passengers and one Railway servant, a dining car attendant, were detained in hospital and 21 passengers and one Railway servant sustained minor injuries."