Welwyn Tunnel rail crash
| Date | 9 June 1866 |
|---|---|
| Time | 23:36 |
| Location | Welwyn, Hertfordshire |
| Coordinates | 51°50′10″N 0°11′10″W / 51.836°N 0.186°WCoordinates: 51°50′10″N 0°11′10″W / 51.836°N 0.186°W |
| Country | England |
| Rail line | East Coast Main Line |
| Cause | Signalling error |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 3 |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Injuries | 2 |
| List of UK rail accidents by year | |
The Welwyn Tunnel rail crash took place in Welwyn North Tunnel, north of Welwyn (now Welwyn North) station on the Great Northern Railway, on 9 June 1866. According to L T C Rolt, "from the point of view of damage to engines and rolling stock it was one of the most destructive in railway history."
There are two tunnels between Welwyn station and Knebworth on the East Coast Main Line, known as Welwyn South Tunnel and Welwyn North Tunnel. In 1866, traffic through the tunnels was operated using a form of block working - the signalmen at Welwyn and Knebworth communicated with each other via a telegraph system, and were not permitted to signal a train into the tunnels until they had received confirmation that the previous train had cleared the section. The instrument was a "speaking" telegraph, which was used for general communication between the signal boxes.
The first train involved in the accident consisted of 38 empty coal wagons, drawn by a tender locomotive. The second train was a Midland Railway goods train from London, with 26 wagons. The third train was a Great Northern express freight train, carrying meat from Scotland for Smithfield Market.
The train of coal empties was signalled away from Welwyn at 23:20. When passing through the North tunnel, the engine failed and the train came to a halt. The guard aboard the Train, Wray, at first recommended that the train be allowed to roll back on the falling gradient to Welwyn, but the driver refused, as such a move would be dangerous in itself and contrary to the railway regulations. The guard should, according to the regulations, have placed detonators on the line to protect the rear of his train, but he failed to do so - he also failed to communicate with either signal box.
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