Keren
New Member
In the mid 70s I was on the London to Inverness sleeper when there was an incident I can't find any record of.
Late in the night the driver died (of a heart attack or similar I believe) but he collapsed in such a way that the dead man's handle didn't stop the train. In fact it sped on, and for some reason the engine cought fire. (Yes, I know how improbable this sounds). I recollect a report in the Inverness Courier saying that a signalman noticed the train passing at speed with the engine on fire, and raised the alarm. I don't know how the train was stopped. I do recall waking in the night to feel the train travelling very fast, and then - later - being stationary for a long time.
No passengers were injured, which is perhaps why I can't find an official record. But I imagine this incident may have prompted improvements in the dead man's handle design.
I'm wondering if anyone can throw any light on this. It would have been between 1974 and 1977 (and early on a Monday morning).
Unfortunately the Inverness Courier doesn't have an archive for that period.
Late in the night the driver died (of a heart attack or similar I believe) but he collapsed in such a way that the dead man's handle didn't stop the train. In fact it sped on, and for some reason the engine cought fire. (Yes, I know how improbable this sounds). I recollect a report in the Inverness Courier saying that a signalman noticed the train passing at speed with the engine on fire, and raised the alarm. I don't know how the train was stopped. I do recall waking in the night to feel the train travelling very fast, and then - later - being stationary for a long time.
No passengers were injured, which is perhaps why I can't find an official record. But I imagine this incident may have prompted improvements in the dead man's handle design.
I'm wondering if anyone can throw any light on this. It would have been between 1974 and 1977 (and early on a Monday morning).
Unfortunately the Inverness Courier doesn't have an archive for that period.