Eltham Well Hall rail crash
| Date | 11 June 1972 |
|---|---|
| Time | 21:35 |
| Location | Eltham Well Hall |
| Country | England |
| Rail line |
Bexleyheath Line (BR Southern Region) |
| Cause | Driver error (due to intoxication) |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Passengers | 10 'well filled' coaches |
| Deaths | 6 |
| Injuries | 126 |
| List of UK rail accidents by year | |
The Eltham Well Hall rail crash was an accident on the British railway system that occurred on 11 June 1972 at approximately 21:35.
An excursion train from Margate to Kentish Town derailed on a sharp curve at Eltham Well Hall station, Eltham, London. The driver Robert Wilsdon and five passengers were killed, and 126 people were injured. At the subsequent public inquiry it was revealed that the driver had been intoxicated by alcohol.
The train was an excursion for Kentish Town-based railway employees of the London Midland Region and their families. After arrival at Margate, the train was stabled at Ramsgate. Wilsdon was not due to be on duty until the afternoon and had gone to a pub at lunchtime with his brothers who said he spent the afternoon at home.
At about 15:20 he booked on duty by telephone with Hither Green depot and travelled by train to Ramsgate. Wilsdon met with his secondman, a youth of 18 years, there. They prepared the train which consisted of a Class 47 diesel locomotive and 10 coaches. While they chatted the secondman 'smelt something pretty strong' on the driver's breath and when questioned about it, he replied that he had "had some beer at dinner time" and had "ended up going somewhere and drinking some sherry".
Nevertheless, at Wilsdon's suggestion, they both went to the nearby Railway Staff Association Club at about 19:00 and drank three pints of light and bitter beer each. At 19:45 they met with the guard and drove the train to Margate to receive the passengers.
The crew left the cab for a few minutes and as a result the train departed from Margate eight minutes late. The journey was normal until the train stopped for signals at Rainham, whereafter the driver made an unscheduled stop in the station to telephone the signalman and ask about another excursion train that they were due to pass some distance ahead. This was a very unusual action, particularly as he had made up almost seven minutes of the lost time.
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