A Brief History of: The Horrific Harrow & Wealdstone Train crash 1952 (Short Documentary)

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Was this event preventable? & Would you like to see more train disasters? Let me know!

[@leonardoariewibowo1325]

yes, i think there is a lot of interesting train disasters in history

[@robsmithracing]

The Cowden Crash in the 90’s in Kent. I missed that train that morning thank goodness.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

@@robsmithracing Thanks for the suggestion I'll have to check that out!

[@TheGrejp]

Zagreb train disaster of 1974. I think it's relatively unknown, but 153 people died, making it one of the worst railway accidents in Europe, particularly after WW2. The disaster really underlined the impact of exhaustion and importance of rest.

[@conorc725]

Another great video! Will you make a video on the crash at Luann bay in Scotland? Or perhaps the derailment at Carmont / Stonehaven?

[@gardenclaw6995]

I'm a train driver, just finished a shift tonight where I've been driving in thick freezing fog. I cannot stress how helpful the AWS system is in these adverse conditions. When visibility is almost zero having that little heads up what the next signal is helps so much. .

[@drumboarder1]

Sure but don't you get into train driving for the adrenaline pumping risk?!

[@olivermcdermidperring5755]

@@drumboarder1 maybe but the 50k starting salary certainly helps

[@dermotmcglinchey282]

I was a fireman in Old Oak Common in the late sixties and seventies , one of our shifts was starting at midnight doing the newspapers from Paddington for Bristol temple meads, my regular driver and I did the driving between us Diesels in those times..As you say the AWS was vital when in dense fog, of course speed limits could be a problem as it was easy to get disoriented by the fog, luckily we did this run a lot so even I was well used to the road..

[@kger4643]

Are your finding your trains are being broken into like in LA?

[@nightynightjill]

I'd love to be a train driver, - Always been a lifelong ambition. - However, seems nigh on impossible to get into though. And if ever any trainee jobs appear they're taken down within hours. I'll keep trying though. :)

[@rbbm454]

My grandad was in the Harrow crash, the only reason he survived was because the carriage he normally took was full, his normal one was decimated.

[@elitecol69]

My grandad said your grandad is a lier and he was never even on the train.

[@john-paulsilke893]

@@elitecol69 it’s possible. I mean there’s nearly 100,000 survivors of the Titanic disaster. However this one is a bit of a weird choice to suggest surviving. In any case there’s probably a very high chance he was local and almost certainly involved in some way. Also, very cheeky reply. My dad said he could kick you dad’s butt. Also he can drink five more beers then your dad, and my mom is a better dancer then your mom.

[@snowbird7614]

Oh my word! That’s a bit of good fortune for him. I’d be afraid to get on the train for a while

[@Hadfield15]

Lucky guy, lucky guy

[@florjanbrudar692]

RB BM One of the wooden coaches? Lucky that he survived

[@higgilo9]

I am a signalman I the US, and this is my worst nightmare. On some commuter lines in the US (Chicago) have automatic train stop, where a engineer needs to acknowledge restricting signals or the train will stop. Before Positive train control (PTC) there is nothing stopping something like this from happening on our freight lines. We try to make the signals as visible as possible, and with LEDs you can see signals for miles. And we call detonators “torpedos” You do an excellent job of explaining ABS, of course we have different terms.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@JAU-pg9ct]

We also have cab signal systems where the train reads code in the rail preventing trains from getting too close to another train. Knocking you down from MAS to restricted speed.

[@JesmondBeeBee]

This one definitely scores high on legacy - not just because of the safety changes, but also the assistance from the US Air Force medics was the first time that battlefield-style triage, was used at a peacetime mass casualty event in Britain, and forever changed the way emergency services respond to such incidents.

[@rogerwhittle2078]

I clearly remember this crash, even though I was only six. I had always been interested by technical things and was obsessed with trains. I used to spend quite a lot of time at my grandmother's at that time and she had a television - with an oil filled magnifier that hung over the tiny screen to increase the image size. The sight of 'Princess Ann' lying on her side and obviously smashed beyond repair, was iconic and one which I have as an indelible memory. Oddly enough, there was another image that became the iconic image of Harrow & Wealdstone for me. Abbey Sweetwine USAF, kneeling on a platform, tending an injured survivor. The still photograph of this scene was published all over the world and, quite properly, 2nd Lt. Sweetwine became quite a celebrity. Apparently, she stayed in the US Air Force for many years and eventually retired with the rank of Major so, she wasn't just a pretty face. She passed away age 87 in 2009, but for me at least, she remains "The Angel of platform 6."

[@Tyrannosaurus_Wrexx]

I was a light rail operator in Dallas, Texas, so I like, and appreciate the “boring bits”

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Glad someone does!

[@paulsillanpaa8268]

Totally agree! I'm not a rail operator but I'm fascinated by how complex systems are guided through (relatively) simple signalling methods. Keep it up!

[@morganosborne9258]

@@PlainlyDifficult thoroughly enjoy your narration of these historical accounts. And I learned a new meaning for chain tonight.

[@tankgirl99]

Me too and I have nothing to do with trains! But maybe that's why, give me all the knowledge!

[@melodyszadkowski5256]

Indeed. I echo that sentiment. The "boring bits" make understanding an event much easier.

[@MotoDesmo]

I am a current UK freight train driver in Anglia, if you need any assistance with research or explanations of railway rules and regulations just ask away, as we have access to a lot of materials. Another great video

[@lindalyons6198]

My Uncle Albert, Albert Perkins, was the driver of the Euston Liverpool train. I was only six at the time but I remember it clearly. He was my mother's brother and like a second Dad to me. He ended up underneath the engine and was sent home in a sealed coffin. My two other uncles also top link engine drivers examined the engine and found the brakes to be on. His fireman escaped as my uncle told him to jump. I give my uncle's name as I have never seen it in any report.

[@horacebachelor]

So sorry to hear about your uncle. There's an Albert Perkins of 53 Chatterton Rd, Knotty Ash in the list of casualities. Presumably that's him as he was an Edge Hill driver. I tried to copy it but couldn't. It's about page number 39 or 40. There's also an article in the October 2022 Aslef journal, page 6 and 7. aslef.org.uk/system/files/2022-10/2022_10_journaloct2022.pdf

[@theotherwise3102]

Blessings to you and RIP to your Uncle Albert 🙏🏼

[@ShermanM4A1E8]

We had quite a similar disaster in similar conditions at Harmelen (Netherlands) in january of '62 (deadliest ever with 92 deaths) which also showed the need of speedy introduction ATB. (Automatische Trein Beïnvloeding). Most drivers here, like me, are shown this disaster in some form during initail driver training. To become aware of what the dangers are and why systems are in place. Excellent explaining on your part too the general public!

[@q3st1on19]

Nothing like a bit of British rail tomfoolery to finish the day. Thanks for another great video.

[@nathanarievlis3985]

Or start the day , for that matter 😉.

[@DarksteelHeart]

The start of mine. Either way I love this type of content. Rest in Peace to all who died on these British Rails

[@TorricRoma]

What kinda logo is that

[@Super_Suchi]

“We do a little trolling” -British railways

[@alexanderraz.]

British Rail trolling

[@LeCharles07]

So I never knew, until recently, that natural gas was odorless. You should talk about the disaster that led to world wide adoption of odorant as an additive to gas; I bet it goes pretty high on the legacy scale. ;)

[@karenhayes3469]

A school exploded in Texas and killed a lot of children. Most were from migrant families so there is no way to know how many

[@Jane_Dough1]

@@karenhayes3469 the London school right?

[@karenhayes3469]

That's the one! In 1937

[@CristiNeagu]

Not only is it odourless, but I believe they use different odours in different parts of the world. Gas in Eastern Europe smells very differently from gas in the UK. I am amazed at this, as someone that moves to a new country will have no idea what that smell is when they encounter it, and a gas leak will be the last thing they think of.

[@blackhawks81H]

@@CristiNeagu They've used mercaptan in the US for a long time... Which makes a natural gas leak smell like bad egg farts.. Which REALLY gets peoples attention. Lol

[@racingfan372]

I can't imagine the terror of, having survived the collision of the first two trains, suddenly realizing ANOTHER train is barreling towards you and there's nothing you can do.

[@blackandwhiterag1117]

@@jerryuk93 The Liverpool train did not collide with the ex Perth train, it ran into the wreckage of the Tring commuter train which was standing in the station.

[@blackandwhiterag1117]

@@jerryuk93 My comment does not contravene the facts - the wreckage of the Tring train was caused by the impact of the Perth engine which then impacted with the Liverpool engines. Also, I very much doubt that timber framed coaches were involved - timber bodied certainly, but running on steel underframes.

[@supremeghost7950]

For me as a train driver in germany I find it interesting but also frightening at the same time to actually see how mighty railways can go wrong, if they go wrong. I got a minor derail a few months ago while shunting and it still give me the creeps when I heard how the first bogie of the wagon hit the ground.

[@MrJoeyWheeler]

Interesting point of loco trivia: One of the LMS locomotives destroyed in this disaster had only recently been converted back into a "traditional" locomotive after spending time as the (failed) experimental engine "Turbomotive", which used turbines instead of traditional cylinders.

[@haroldpearson6025]

Princess Anne

[@olly5764]

not so much converted back as she had been built as a turbomotive. The only reason she was a failure is WW2 meant parts for the turbines had been difficult to obtain, and thee were now badly worn out, and post war Austerity meant we stuck to reciprocating engines, meaning she was unique, hence no spares

[@stanislavczebinski994]

IDK for shure, but cylinder-steam engines, especially triple- or quad-expansion, are quite effective. Tons of useful torque - often one steam-engine was replaced by two diesels later. I can't tell how efficent 1930ies turbines on locos where but it all comes down to what is readily available and what is unobtainium. Wiki says it ran at ~7000rpm, therefore everything had to be very very precise and made out of special, expensive and hard to get alloys. Remember, you needed a gearbox too - back then before steam- or diesel-electric became a thing. At that time, labour was cheap, so it was no big deal to have 2 men on an engine instead of just one. And coal, albeit a lot of it, was obviously cheaper/easier to get than those precious alloys. Plus, the whole chain of supply/maintainance was made for ACME-steamers. If you have hundreds of locos (and dozens of shops) as a company this is important. The biggest efficiency-advantage with the Turbomotives where at high speed btw., at low-speeds only when very well designed.

[@haroldpearson6025]

@@stanislavczebinski994 A good engineering friend who was a CPO on atomic submarines said that turbines under 2000hp are not much use?

[@davidwhiting1761]

As far as turbines are concerned the turbomotive was actually fairly successful and well-liked by her crews. She spent the largest part of her career as a turbomotive (1935-1949, 14 years). The only reason she was converted to a traditional loco was because part of the turbine gear failed in 1949 and BR decided it was uneconomic to replace the turbine so she was withdrawn for rebuild and rolled out of the works as a conventional Lizzie in 1952. Only 2 months later the loco was involved in the Harrow collision and was deemed too far gone to repair and scrapped, leading to the construction of the Duke of Gloucester.

[@davidtraynor8075]

Amazing to see how detailed your explanation is to help understand the scene correctly. This is staple Saturday viewing for me!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@jrmckim]

Even though it's hard for me to fully understand, I still enjoy learning. Last 2 years I have gone through late stage cancer and chemo. It has affected my ability to comprehend things that I used to know. Especially in aviation. I appreciate John for giving the best explanations in these matters.

[@Tevildo]

22:11 One minor point. The Great Western ATC system had the ramp energized (not de-energized) when the signal was clear. This was to ensure that an electrical failure, on either the signal or the locomotive, would not give a false "clear" indication in the cab.

[@Krzyszczynski]

That's right - same principle is at work with track circuits. If the current fails, the indication changes to "occupied". And of course vacuum brakes: if the vacuum's lost, on goes the brake!

[@stevekears4063]

I’m from wealdstone. One of the guys who used to come into the pub where I worked in the 1980’s was a railman when the accident happened. I remember him telling me about it. He said it was carnage. He said he worked all day helping to remove the dead and the injured and said the thing that always stuck with him was that they were all so exhausted he said he remembered that they all had to stop and rest he said he remembered sitting down on a sleeper and eating his sandwiches and having a cup of tea surrounded by the wreckage and the dead.

[@RCAvhstape]

It's not just British signals; I have yet to fully comprehend any signaling system. In the US it varies by railroad company and time period so you can really go down a rabbit hole with it.

[@rickansell661]

The lack of ATP systems in the US comes up regularly in NTSB reports. It's wider introduction is one of their 'Most Wanted' improvements. Many frieght lines in the US havene't even progressed as far as signals - Movement permits and instructions over the radio are used. The other issue with the US is that signalling systems and their meaning are not standardised between lines and companies. This caused an accident in the not to distant past where the meaning of signals in a companies depot was different to the meaning of the same indication on another companies line it was directly connected to. It worries me, as someone with good knowledge of the UK system, that red doesn't always mean stop (a universal rule in the UK) and drivers on some lines are sometime required, on some companies lines, to distinguish between shades of the same colour in order to discern the meaning of signals. OTOH I am worried by a very recent UK accident report where it is clear that the investigators haven't been keeping track of current US and Canadian experience, rule-making and tanker waggon design, which would indicate improved alternatives to some of their recommendations in that area. TLDR: Not enough trans-atlantic thinking is going on.

[@Ba11leFieldAce]

This accurate, as someone who worked in and around Texas sand mines, I'll tell yall that rules can change even between mines and transit facilities that are in the same districts. I spent 4 years around rail facilities and transit facilities and it always amazed me the serious accidents are as rare as they are. I've seen a dozen derails in that industry, and never once was it anything more than an expensive inconvenience.

[@mikelucas3746]

@@rickansell661 Well actually trains can proceed through a red if a ground signal allows. Usually used to put trains into sidings.

[@eaglescout1984]

Most railways are now standardized around the "red means stop, yellow means slow, green means clear" signals (except for a few outliers including some old Pennsylvania Railroad signals on the Northeast corridor). But, it is crazy to think at one time, even in the same state, you could have multiple signal standards that didn't have any commonality between them.

[@theenigmaticst7572]

@@eaglescout1984 Just to compare, it wasn't until the 1890s that red for danger was made commonplace on UK lines.

[@brucemasters3487]

A macabre fact about the death toll is that 36 of the fatalities were of staff who worked in London Midland Headquarters offices at Euston House. There was a diktat at one time that rail staff should travel separately from other passengers, which explains why so many were in the rear coaches of the local train.

[@gwenstephan67]

These stories always creep me out because this is exactly the kind of mistake I can see myself making... being too comfortable in my routine and missing a warning sign/looking at the wrong sign and misinterpreting what I've seen. Especially on a foggy day! Excellent summation of the events!

[@jasonmyneni8605]

A lot of car crashes this way. Missing a sign or stop light is pretty much the same as missing a signal. It just so happened that this crash had lot more people involved

[@leechowning8728]

I always say it will not be cars on a busy road that get me, but that one on an "empty" road I didn't notice in time. When things are "quiet" or "calm" is when you have to be really vigilant.

[@Krzyszczynski]

@@jasonmyneni8605 Bang on, Jason! I'm certain that reading extensively about railway disasters has given me some vital knowledge about the nasty tricks the human eye and brain are capable of playing, and helped make me a more alert and less careless car driver.

[@pageuk]

I used to live close to that station and I did not know the history. I do remember at a child in the 70s or 80s being evacuated because of a chemical leak locally and the time the high street flooded. The horror of Harrow indeed.

[@garrysekelli6776]

Sounds harrowing.

[@LesSharp]

I grew up in South Harrow. Even by the 70's this had been pretty much glossed over and wasn't mentioned. I never did like that station though.

[@lofthouse23]

To be fair there is a memorial at Harrow station. And keen eyed people can still spot some of the damage caused.

[@kateemma22]

I openly screamed at the computer when the talk of the Liverpool-bound train started. I don't know why I didn't catch that there were three trains involved from the start but it still got me. This was the train version of the Halifax shipping disaster - everything bad that could happen, did.

[@neilevans8940]

Check out Quintinshill... 😉

[@ZaydinTTV]

To quote the old National Geographic series, Seconds from Disaster, disasters don't just happen. They're a chain of critical events. A chain of events where if just one event had either not happened or gone differently could have prevented the entire disaster from happening or reduced the severity.

[@jrmckim]

I like the Swiss Chesse model. Basically for an accident to happen, all holes have to line up just right (or wrong 😅). I'm having a hard time remembering the exact book (I have chemo brain) but it was a brilliant book.

[@dilltaskermusic1407]

I used to live right next to this station. If you look closely, you can still see the rebuilt part of the walkway doesn't entirely match the rest of it. I always found that to be a chilling reminder of this tragedy.

[@amp9930]

My father was living with his parents exactly a mile away when this crash happened. I remember him talking about this crash and that it really upset him. As a schoolboy he would go to the station regularly to watch the LMS trains.

[@volvo09]

Love these train disaster videos! Good thing you like explaining the signals, because knowing how they work is more interesting than "the conductor missed the signal".

[@anthonydefreitas6006]

It's strange how this is such a serious accident and this is the first I've heard of it? Excellent work as usual John.

[@darksu6947]

His name is Plainly, not John! 😒

[@ronalddavis]

yeah but kim kardashian farted didnt you hear?

[@teslakovalaborator]

A major crash has also happened in 1970 at Řikonín in former Czechoslovakia. This disaster had similar safety standing on signallist, who in this case failed. Also, this was a three-train crash, too.

[@Gloriousturtlechan]

I genuinely watched all your vids over and over again, I fall asleep to them. It's like a ritual. Your video's are entirely my favourite types of subjects but without the loud music and sounds added in and with a pleasant voice narrating. Perfect. Please keep doing what you're doing!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@jrmckim]

🙌🏻 Indeed!! It's a pleasant listening experience for sure. I have a Playlist of PD downloaded so even if I don't have wifi or signal, I can still fall asleep to John's gentle voice. I recently realized that the channels I've used to fall asleep to are narrated by a British man. Weird History being the only non British narrator. 😅 I guess a British accent is calming for me.

[@mikewheeler9011]

Like, comment, engagement. Always a treat to watch a plainly difficult production. Satisfies my morbid curiosity.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@AS-rm5he]

Well this is moving my understanding of signalling beyond late 80s Thomas and Friends. I did read about this crash on Wikipedia but having the context and the issues explained so well here is great.

[@marklatimer7333]

I read the full inquiry report into this accident a few years ago, it's available at Railway Archive. The thing I found most disturbing was the hand-written & typed notes taken during by the rescuer's & mortuaries that were then entered into evidence. The notes grouped under Fatality & Injury lists, with names, addresses and ages of the victims, some names having the word "FATAL" in brackets. One list names 'Railway staff still missing', on it a young lady 16 years old from Balmorral Road in Watford, another note in the file, hand-written in pencil by Edgware Mortuary lists an unknown Woman aged about 17 - I honestly don't know if this lady survived or not. These fragments recorded at the time brought home to me the disaster in a whole new light.

[@scottmccrea1873]

My Mom's cousin was married to a guy worked for Santa Fe railroad for 40 years. Astonishing just how complex RR management really is. His last job was finding train cars that had gone missing.

[@MightyMezzo]

Maybe it’s just the animation, but the difference between “proceed” and “danger” on the semaphore signals seems insufficient to me, and could be missed in poor visibility. Thank you for explaining them, and the terms “up” and “down.” Good video. If you’re looking for a combined train and wartime disaster, I’d like to see one on the Wreck of the Congressional at Frankford Junction in Philadelphia on Labor Day 1943. My grandfather was a track supervisor for the Pennsylvania RR, and was gone from home for two days clearing up the wreck.

[@lewisdoherty7621]

I often thought it would be interesting for there to be a study of the frequency of railway accidents during wartime and peacetime. During war time, the systems are usually above operating capacity, there are extra, not normally scheduled trains, sometimes political and military authorities are applying pressure to do things which normally wouldn't be done and there are often staffing pressures which normally wouldn't happen - while railways are considered strategic industries, that doesn't mean men of military age can't be taken from them by the military, if replacements can be found for their job slots in the not suitable for the military pool.

[@carribob1992]

Fun fact: The nameplates of the 2 engines that were damaged beyond repair in the accident (LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 no 45637 Winward Islands and LMS Rebuilt Turbomotive 4-6-2 no 46202 Princess Anne) ended up in the collection of Doncaster Grammar School's Railway Society. They are on display at the Danum Gallery in Doncaster in the Railway exhibit.

[@boonmbach]

Great Video as always. Love your Train videos and especially the detailed explanation. You could look into the German-Fast Train accident in Eschede in 1998; has an very interesting story too.

[@arialydia8095]

I recently read a novel which included this train disaster as a backdrop so it's really interesting to learn the historical facts about the causes and effects. Thanks for another great rail-related video! *edit the crash in the novel was actually 1957 Lewisham oops!

[@alicecopping4917]

what novel was that?

[@arialydia8095]

@@alicecopping4917 Lol my bad I double checked and it turns out the novel included the Lewisham Train crash of 1957 not this one! I remembered it was the 1950s and thought there probably weren't multiple bad crashes in one decade but oops, the book is called Small Pleasures in case you're still interested but the crash does play a more minor role for setting the scene, it's not the main focus :)

[@theenigmaticst7572]

To be fair, similar issues caused both crashes, so getting them mixed up is understandable.

[@des_smith7658]

Locomotive 34066 "spitfire" was involved in the parks bridge Lewisham crash

[@Mister_Clean]

Concise and intriguing. You hardly hear about historical incidents like this in the states.

[@Slickusso]

Yeah

[@darksu6947]

Do you have any Magic Erasers you could send me? I'm running low.

[@DIS-JOINTEDJOINERY]

One of my old scout leaders was a boy when this happened and was one of the first on the scene. He was also because of his child's size sent through the wreckage to give aid.

[@ajkleipass]

That was a wonderful video. I'm American, but I have a soft spot in my heart for British railways, and signal boxes. ❤

[@WineScrounger]

Trust me, they’re best loved from a distance.

[@jimdieseldawg3435]

Great job, Plainly. Also glad that you’ve nailed “exacerbated”, I was getting quite exasperated 😉 Just the right amount of signalling info provided, and a good record of an horrific accident that changed British Railways. Alongside AWS, another positive outcome (due to 46202 “Princess Anne”, the ex-Turbomotive being unfortunately written-off), the authorisation to build a replacement Pacific was granted; that leading to the magnificent and unique 8P, 71000 “Duke of Gloucester”. Tragedy is often bittersweet.

[@daszieher]

It pleases me, that I was bit the only one 😂

[@davidmason7765]

oh FFS mate claiming 71000 as a positive outcome is such a dickhead comment. Speaking as a steam fan.

[@theshenpartei]

This episode of Thomas and friends was dark

[@phawkwood]

I love your train videos, and would happily watch an hour or two just on British Railway Signaling.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@marvindebot3264]

Same here.

[@ebnertra0004]

I would find that interesting, as well. I know systems in North America like the back of my hand (because I live there), but the UK (and the rest of Europe) has some things I just don't understand. Shunting signals, for one, just don't make sense to my simple American mind

[@fetchstixRHD]

There's an (1980s I think) "official" almost hour long video on BR signalling, for those who haven't seen it (searching it should hopefully reveal it). I would love to see a modern remake of that video tbh!

[@winjama8266]

As a young boy, I lived in Hatch End roughly 1954-1959. My father, in the USAF, was stationed at Ruislip AFB. I attended school in Harrow Wealdstone. My best friend’s family ran a restaurant across from the station in question. This video is the first I’ve heard anything about this tragic accident. Thank you so much for an excellent video and description of the accident. I appreciate it very much.

[@kristoffermangila]

This disaster is also known in the history of the USAF, since it was a group of Air Force medics that were one of the first responders in that crash.

[@Krzyszczynski]

@@kristoffermangila One thing I've never been clear about is: how exactly did the USAF personnel get involved in the response? Did someone on the base hear about the crash and alert the CO saying "we might be needed"? Or did the local emergency services call up Ruislip and beg for assistance? Some years before this, at the Bourne End crash of 1945, local US personnel and equipment had again played a significant role in the immediate aftermath and clear-up. No mystery there, though - a USAF captain taking off from a nearby airfield saw the disaster unfolding, and alerted his CO by radio.

[@Grimmtoof]

In case anyone is interested I was speaking to a friend who's used to be a stores man for the railway and he confirmed that trains still carry detonators today for use in case of a breakdown. He also mentioned two instances they found large piles of very old detonators in the store and ended up calling in bomb disposal to remove them!

[@Wolfshead009]

In the US, they are called torpedoes. While they have fallen out of use on many lines, apparently they are still used on a few.

[@TheKittycatCassie]

i love the fact that in newer episodes you also say the number on the scale rather than just show it as I usually listen to these and can't always look at the screen. Keep up the good work and have a safe day

[@1JamesZ]

I’m impressed about how much you researched the terminologies we use on the tracks

[@dukenukem5768]

While I was working for the railways until recently, portable detonators were carried on the train for emergency use. They were fixed to a running rail by wrapping a pair of soft aluminium flexible tails around the rail head. The ones referred to as being placed by the Harrow signallers however would have been ones swung out over the rail by an arm operated remotely from the signal box.

[@IN_THIS_DAY_AND_AGE]

My great uncle worked at the British Rail offices in London Euston. He crossed that footbridge and caught his train less than half an hour before the accident. Despite the amount of damage and wreckage, the railway staff cleared and repaired enough to start running some trains just 24 hours later. Now we would have rail replacement buses for months.

[@ShaCaro]

You make it sound like it's a bad thing that nowadays we take time to do research and cleaning, instead of just letting trains roll down disaster sites a day later.

[@mklopfer]

The ”boring” part is the best part! Thanks for the detailed deep dives

[@BerlietGBC]

Nice presentation, I’ve read many accounts of the crash, I used to work with a old chap who was there as a first aider , the thing that always stuck in my mind was is recollection of dustbins being used for the severed limbs . The old stock being used having little crash integrity

[@Nugglashine]

The US has The History Guy, England has Plainly, and Ireland has that tricky Qxir

[@darksu6947]

I love Qxir!

[@andyc4018]

I will never get tired of watching plainly difficult videos

[@gillcawthorn7572]

Sorry if this is rather long but there can`t be very many of us left with actual memories of being there that day. I was travelling to school on this day ,using the suburban (electric) track ,from my home 3 stops up the line at Carpenters Park and this was my daily commute to school since moving out of London 20 months previously. I must have been the one living the furthest out of the girls in my year and we made a point of travelling in the same place on the train, so that we travelled together; it was always the first compartment in the last carriage . I boarded the train as usual at 08.05 (ish) and with me were a number of adult commuters ,most of whom got out at Harrow and Wealdstone station, to be replaced by my 4 or 5 schoolfriends and some adults. I now realise that the commuters were all transferring to the fast London bound train ,waiting on the adjoining platform . The stopping train I was on moved on to the next station ( Kenton) ,waited there for perhaps a minute then moved out, but almost immediately stopped just clear of the station . This was not unusual, there would often be brief pauses on the journey and it was not until 5 or so minutes had passed that the adults started to get a bit uneasy .By the time 15 minutes had passed with the train still stationary we girls realised that there was no way that we would get to school on time ,so it was all a bit of an adventure. After 30 or so more minutes there were noises from the trackside and rail staff members with wooden steps were asking all passengers to leave the train and walk back to Kenton station ,where there were notices advising of no further trains and so make our own way onwards. Luckily one of the girls lived not too far away at Belmont and we went to her home ,probably by bus .Her mother must have contacted the school and we finally arrived there at about 11.00 am. Over the next few weeks ,buses were laid on between Kenton and Headstone Lane ,bypassing the wreck scene but with no home phone or TV I didn`t know what had happened until the papers next day showed the horrific scenes. We must have been about 3 minutes away from it .

[@mikeprzyrembel6308]

Carpenders Park.

[@lofthouse23]

Amazing story!

[@bluepotato1354]

The train signal sections are unironically my favorite!

[@prof.hectorholbrook4692]

My father MISSED the Harrow Local train that morning, as the Branch line train from St.Albans Abbey ran late and he missed the connection into it at Watford Junction. He ALWAYS travelled in the rear of the Local to Euston from Watford in a smoking compartment. So I owe my life to the late running of the Branch line train from St.Albans Abbey. BTW - I personally missed the Ladbroke Grove Disaster HST at Reading by less than 30 seconds, because the DMU I was on from Bedwyn ran in about 5 late that morning. (At that time I lived in Devizes). Had I made the connection & caught it (i.e the Up Cheltenham HST), I would have definitely stood in the Buffet Car. Need I say more.

[@49shinn]

Keep up the great videos! love all the history! Thanks Plainly D!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@0therun1t21]

I love your clear, unrushed explanations of how things work. Thank you again!

[@rachelcarre9468]

Well done on trying to explain Absolute Block quickly and summarily, thank you John!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Glad you liked it

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

2-6-4T indicates the wheel arrangement and normally doesn't indicate the class but can be used to distinguishes between 2 locomotives of similar power but different wheel arrangements or between tender and ta k locomotives (as indicated by the T). The local train was being hauled by a Fowler 4MT (in the BR power classification scheme, it was 4P under the LMS).

[@itchyvet]

As a retired train driver, in Australia, where much of our rules were imported from the U.K. this video really struck me. Only the other day was talking with my son, (who is also a train driver, )about new employees with the company he works for, a private entity, thus safe working rules are nothing like they were when I was driving as a Government employee. The point is, this young fella could not see the sense, or the importance being placed on safe working rules on railways. I suggested he be directed to watch some videos like this, to gain some understanding of what the concept is, and why it grew. Very good video needs to be shown to all new prospective trainees.

[@thejasonknightfiascoband5099]

Hey I actually like it when you talk about the signal systems b/c you explain it very well. You make jt easy to understand.

[@Robslondon]

Excellent video. I grew up near this station and once knew someone who was involved in the rescue effort. As you can imagine, he saw some terrible things that day.

[@mikeprzyrembel6308]

My neighbour's father had a furniture store close to the station and used his Pantechnicon to ferry the injured to Edgeware General hospital as the ambulance service could not cope with the numbers.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

Ah...it's 7 degrees F here (snot-freezing cold as we say in Michigan) but it's sunny. Coffee and Plainly are my Saturday morning routine. I'd love to hear about some American train disasters, we've had a few.

[@KCDash4400cw]

I'm liking these railway related documentaries

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@KCDash4400cw]

@@PlainlyDifficult your welcome

[@mbryson2899]

Tragic story I had only ever seen hints of before. And you had the railgeek in me totally engaged. Signals in the U.S. vary and change over time and sometimes region so halfway understanding yet another system was welcome. (One of my fond childhood memories was chilling with a railcrew in rural Missouri when I was a kid. They were filling hoppers on a siding so they had time to kill and they indulged a nine year old with a tour of the cab.)

[@1630revelloify]

Thank you for this. I live 3 minutes away from the station, and use it to commute. There are memorials stating that this was the first time the triage system was used in the UK. Also, the platform 7 branch line was used, but only as far as Belmont Circle. You can walk the single track (the Belmont Trail) which still has a few pieces of railway debris on the way.

[@calyodelphi124]

You say that the signaling aspects of this video are the boring part, but for a nerd like me they, too, are the interesting bits, and it's always a pleasure to hear a nerd like you talk about the nerdy stuff like that.

[@discomfortzone]

You should do one about the Granville Train Disaster (1977) in Australia. 84 people were killed. Australia’s worst rail disaster. Would be a very interesting one to cover.

[@debraodonnell]

I'm from Australia and even though I was only 12at the time I still remember this

[@yvettedesmarais8107]

Thank you for these videos. I think the explanations of the signaling system add to the video. They are a good balance of detail with the story.

[@RobSchofield]

Excellent story of the crash: great explanation of the signalling system of the time.

[@bernarddickinson9841]

Thanks very much for your time and efforts in making the video. Very informative. Really appreciate your explanation of the signalling. Paul from Kanmantoo

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@tgmcface]

My most looked to videos each week. Thank you.

[@cameronstiles8994]

Good video. I am from Harrow, it is pronounced ‘we’ ‘ald’ ‘stone’ as in the philosophers stone . The way you have said the word makes it sounds more like Willesden than Wealdstone. I know the tfl voice calls it ‘wealdstun’ as you have done, but I can tell you confidently that the locals pronounce it ‘we ald stone’ 👍🏻

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thanks for sharing!

[@geoffreylomas4499]

Then the locals are wrong. 'Stone' is pronounced 'stun' in British English - think how you pronounce 'Folkestone' - it's pronounced 'Folkstun', isn't it? But I agree, pronunciations do get corrupted, sadly. I wonder if you asked some really old Wealstonians if they remember Wealdstone being pronounced differently from what it is today.

[@jballetmad]

@@geoffreylomas4499 No; I was brought up in We ald stone, in Head stone Drive; I never heard anyone shorten "stone" to "stun" in the 13+ years I lived there!

[@alaricpaley6865]

This was.... really hard to keep track of.

[@martinjolly8351]

There were so many crashes in & around London - Lewisham, Croydon, Hither Green, Eltham, Cannon Street. All deserve a good neutral assessment like yours.

[@thelazarous]

I can't believe someone mentioned chains, as a surveyor in the states that's how all of our land was once divided

[@mkeil100]

I'm glad you are getting time to research what you enjoy. I've never learned about the train signal systems before. But I automate machinery and find control philosophy interesting.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

That's awesome!

[@stephanieparker1250]

We had a horrible train crash here in Oregon not long ago. The driver was going too fast for the corner and the cars derailed, killing people. This came not long after the track company turned down the push to install the AWS on that track.

[@Ali-wb3bw]

It's always a pleasure to watch your videos, keep up the good work!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@CMDPromptify]

Up too early. You've made this morning so much better

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@johnspencer2538]

Thank you. That's the best explanation of that incedent I've ever heard or seen.

[@maxhill7065]

I thought I heard the word chain as a measure of length and just as I was about to minimize the video to check you clarified haha, excellent work as usual!

[@1963TOMB]

1 chain is 22 yards, or about 20 metres: the distance between the two sets of stumps in cricket.

[@darksu6947]

@@1963TOMB That's a funny way to play baseball

[@beccakate8592]

Okay this is just weird… I was watching your content like 2 days ago having just discovered your channel. I saw all the videos you do on train disasters and it made me think… My grandma was involved in this incident, after looking through your videos I saw you hadn’t done a video on it yet so watched a couple of random ones although not many have been made and then I opened my app to this. So strange

[@stevenjennings197]

I now know more about the British Rail Signaling system from the mid century than I did yesterday. Another great video 👍

[@rogerfletcher6306]

My father was the last person to speak to the footplate crew of City of Glasgow. Following a night shift at Stafford his relief signalman status allowed him access to a cab ride to return to his home base of Rugby on the late running sleeper. He related that he found driver Jones very calm and professional but he was concerned about getting pegged all the way up to London, wanting to know what traffic had been sent south by my father. His informed opion ,was that the crew had been clock watching at Harrow , as he had experienced this before but luckily with minor consequences. He was never called before the investigation board.

[@NewController01]

(not sure if I did post a comment here or not) The aftermath of the accident was also the springboard for the creation of BR's 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" to fill in the void in motive power left by 46202 "Princess Anne"

[@FerroequinologistofColorado]

PlainlyDuficult I can’t blame you for being interested in the signaling engineering. I find it extremely interesting as well

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you

[@FerroequinologistofColorado]

@@PlainlyDifficult your welcome. Keep up your great content

[@darksu6947]

@@FerroequinologistofColorado I hope you manage to stop your train someday! It must be terrifying to be on a runaway train all the time.

[@johnreed8336]

I had heard about this crash when I was a child growing up in the 60's . The crash was often mentioned in fictional films of the 50/60's . Never got round to looking into the story in greater depth until your KZbin video came along . So thank you for the well researched video . Have subscribed to your channel!!

[@keithsj10]

How ridiculously complex the train warning system is. Or was. It probably still is. Nice work 👍

[@dukenukem5768]

The signalling is actually simpler today, both from the operations point of view and the concept. No longer are wayside stations regarded as special areas. The old system was based on the idea of the station area all being covered by line of sight and the lengths between the stations being a kind of no-man's land.

[@MisterFribble]

I'm not a signalman or a light rail worker, just a model railroad enthusiast. I definitely appreciated the boring bits.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@kennethmadsen6474]

Thanks for another great train accident video. If you want to cover more train accidents, I’d suggest looking at a recent event here in Denmark: The accident at the 2nd of January 2019 at the Great Belt Bridge. A collision where a loose container on a freight train hits a passenger train going in the opposite direction.

[@gts-fan-man6771]

Another quality video 🤟

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@Mario12342010]

Railway videos are always interesting to watch

[@cactusgamestoomuch5674]

I could listen to you for hours

[@cactusgamestoomuch5674]

!!! That was unexpected thanks/p

[@connorvincent4652]

You are incredible! I don’t know where you learn all of this but it’s so impressive.

[@franciskolarik6802]

Ther boring bits are fascinating, and also important.

[@TheNapalmFTW]

I have a book on British railway disasters. Of course this one is in there, but there's lots more detail here, including pictures I've never seen before. Good job mate

[@rocksreynolds3642]

Thanks for the film, instructive as all your films are. Another interesting UK train crash that brought change was the Hixon incident in 1968, also known as "the irresistible force meets immovable object " crash. That would be a good subject for you.

[@robertwilloughby8050]

Fully agree with you over Hixon. With both the railways and the roads failing each other, that was a nasty, nasty accident that could have been even worse.

[@asilver2889]

The Open University did a great case study of Hixon, published in Catastrophic Failures, 1977.