South Croydon rail crash

infobox UK rail accident


title= South Croydon rail crash
date= 24 October 1947
location= South Croydon
line = Southern Railway
cause= Signalman error
trains= 2
pax= ~1,800
deaths= 32
injuries= The South Croydon rail crash on the British railway system occurred on 24 October 1947. [Citation
last = Mount
first = Lt Col A H L
title = Report on the Collision near South Croydon Junction
year = 1948
date = 18 December 1948
publisher = Ministry of Transport
url = http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MoT_SouthCroydon1947.pdf
accessdate = 2008-09-06]

The crash took place south of South Croydon railway station. Two electric commuter trains collided in fog and 32 people were killed. It was the worst accident on Britain's Southern Railway during its existence, from 1923 to 1947.

The accident was a rear collision caused by a signalman's error. The inexperienced signalman at Purley Oaks forgot about a train from Haywards Heath railway station to London Victoria standing invisible in the fog. The line was protected by Sykes "Lock and Block" apparatus, which prevented him from allowing another train into the section until the preceding one had left it. However, he believed that the elderly apparatus was faulty and used a release key. This allowed a train from Tattenham Corner to Victoria into the same section and they collided near South Croydon Junction. The trains were crowded in the rush hour, carrying 800 and 1000 people respectively, hence the heavy death toll.

Similar accidents occurred at Battersea Park in 1937, Barnes in 1955 and Crayford railway station in 1959.

References