 |
 |
|
|
|
| site name:- |
Settle and Carlisle Railway |
| locality:- |
Aisgill |
| civil parish:- |
Mallerstang (formerly Westmorland) |
| county:- |
Cumbria |
| locality type:- |
railway accident site |
| coordinates:- |
SD77349723 (guess) |
| 1Km square:- |
SD7797 |
| 10Km square:- |
SD79 |
|
|
hearsay:-
|
On 2 September 1913 a sleeping car express, due out at 1.35am, left Carlisle at 1.38am.
The train was heavy and the driver had requested a pilot for the climb to Aisgill,
but none was available; the locomotive, no.993, stalled for lack of steam due to unsuitable
coal.
|
|
The same morning a second sleeper, due out at 1.49am, left Carlisle southbound at
1.54am. Although this too had poor coal, the train was lighter and 4-4-0 locomotive
no.446 kept better time. The engine was not fitted with mechanical lubricators and
the driver went on the running plate filling oil boxes when they passed Birkett Tunnel
where the driver misread a distant signal, back in the cab one injector had failed
the other was not working properly and in coping with these the driver missed several
Mallerstang signals.
|
|
The first train saw the glow of a firebox and heard the beat of the second train,
and sent back a guard with a lamp to stop it. But: too late. The second train ran
into the first, breaking up coaches, and starting a fire. 14 passengers died then,
2 more later.
|
|
|
Lakes Guides menu.