A Trio from
Colin Burges
Colin Burges
A summer Saturday HST threads the Newquay branch - passing under the 'new' roadbridge near the former St Dennis Junction. Copyright Colin Burges
This time an HST heading towards Newquay has just passed through Coswarth tunnel and is passing the site of a former footbridge before heading on towards Quintrel Downs. Copyright. Colin Burges
A magnificent picture taken from the Avon bridge of a coal train heading along the Portishead branch making for the main line. One can only hope that before long passenger trains will be making this journey once more to a new terminus at Portishead. Copyright Colin Burges
Serious accident at
Bournemouth West
Mike Morant
Bournemouth West
Mike Morant
On Friday 17th August 1956 13 years old Mike Morant and his 9 years old brother were train watching at the country end of platform 4 at Bournemouth West station and were alarmed to see an entire train descending the bank from the carriage sidings at speed and with no locomotive attached. The stock hurtled into platform 6 followed by a thump as it ploughed into the stock intended for the 11.34 service to Southampton Central at the town end of platform 6 which was propelled through the platform end and into the parcels office. The runaway stock was the 13 coach formation intended for the 11.16 service to York/Newcastle which had undergone some minor maintenance but the crew allegedly forgot to apply the handbrake and a kiss to the buffers by the train engine was sufficient to set this entire incident in motion. Quick reactions from the yard staff and the signalman prevented what might have been a worse scenario. The wrecked Maunsell coach is 3783 which formed part of three coach set no. 330 but at the time of writing the identity of the ‘van’ which was also destroyed in the crash isn’t known.
[Photographs taken by Mike Morant]
[Photographs taken by Mike Morant]
The wrecked Maunsell coach at the buffer stop of platform 6 is 3783 which formed part of three coach set no. 330. Friday 17th August 1956 Photograph by Mike Morant.
Mike younger brother inspects the wreckage at the buffers of platform 6. It is extremely fortunate that nobody was hurt, and extremely fortunate for us that Mike was there with his camera at the time.
Many thanks indeed Mike for this rare report of what at the time was a serious incident.