Welwyn Garden City rail crash
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The Welwyn Garden City rail crash occurred on 15 June 1935, near Welwyn Garden City railway station in Hertfordshire, England. A steam train from London Kings Cross to Leeds collided with a train from Kings Cross to Newcastle at night and 13 people were killed and 85 injured.
The accident was a rear collision caused by a signalman's error. The signalman at Welwyn Garden City, who had been fairly recently appointed to the box, became confused and accepted two trains into the same block section. The first (Newcastle) train received a signal check and was slowed down to 15-20 mph; the Leeds train ran into it at approximately 65 mph.
There were several significant features. Firstly, the modern rolling stock withstood the violent collision well (apart from the last coach which was totally destroyed); older coaches would have been crushed, with much heavier loss of life. Secondly, the Inspecting Officer felt that the box was so busy that a quicker-witted signalman was required - an unusual conclusion. Thirdly, he recommended that the block instruments should be linked to the track circuits to prevent future occurrences; this was widely adopted and known as Welwyn Control.
A second unrelated accident took place here in 1957; this was another rear collision but was due to a driver's error, a signal passed at danger. One person was killed.
