Crashing Through Engine Shed Wall

[Greg Wetzel]

Are there any accidents involving tender engines crashing through the back wall of the engine shed? If so, what was the cause of the accident?

 

[2392]

In short there were many over the years. Equally there were many reasons, for instance low boiler pressure [with the related low steam brake power], misjudgement of the length of the siding by the driver. To name but two possibilities.....

 

[eastdyke]

Not an engine shed wall but not many would be as 'spectacular' as this:

[from disused stations website] Adolphus Street Bradford 1964:

Disused Stations: Bradford Adolphus Street Station

A major accident occurred on 10 November 1964 when 43072, an Ivatt 4F, was working a train of twenty-one empty wagons from Ardsley. The driver lost control at Laisterdyke and ran into Adolphus St. goods yard at an estimated speed of 50 mph. Before demolishing the buffers the crew jumped clear and the train crashed through a wall to fall 30ft into Dryden Street below. The 14 year old locomotive was considered beyond economic repair was cut up in the road 4 days later by G.W.Butler of Laisterdyke.

 

[43096]

There was an incident in Buchs in Switzerland in 2019 where a loco went through the shed doors (literally) and pushed a coach stored inside out through the back of the shed.
https://papess.com/switzerland/shunting-of-the-incident-location-propel-historic-wagon-through-wall/

 

[Taunton]

There were normally fairly substantial bufferstops in front of the wall to guard against this.

I've written before about the steep ramp up to the coaling stage at Taunton shed, at least 1 in 10 and maybe steeper, which would be stormed full throttle by a pannier tank pushing one or two coal wagons. Up high beyond the stage was a substantial bufferstop, which was all twisted and bent after being struck by enthusiastic crews who found they then couldn't quite shut off to stop in time.

 

[Ploughman]

Is Foxfield shed a candidate?