South Croydon rail crash
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Date and time: | 24 October 1947 |
| Location: | South Croydon |
| Rail line: | Southern Railway |
| Cause: | Signalman error |
| Statistics | |
| Trains: | 2 |
| Passengers: | ~1,800 |
| Deaths: | 32 |
| Injuries: | |
| List of UK rail accidents by year | |
The South Croydon rail crash was an accident on the British railway system which occurred on 24 October 1947.
The accident took place between East Croydon and Purley stations. 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 silent and 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.
| Rail accidents in the United Kingdom | Rail accidents in London |
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Barnes | Bexley | Cannon Street | Clapham Junction | Dagenham East | Ealing | Eltham Well Hall | Forest Gate | Harrow and Wealdstone | Hither Green | Holborn | Ladbroke Grove | Lewisham | Moorgate | Purley | Southall | South Croydon | Spa Road |
