Wigan Album

Very sad. If a train is stopped on a section of track, the light must be on red from behind to warn other on coming trains. What went wrong. I think lights are one mile apart.

Google is your friend: http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoT_Wigan1984.pdf
A sad and unfortunate sequence of events, resulting in two deaths in that cab.

An unauthorized unblocking of the section of track by the signalman was partly apportioned the blame. The signal on display was changed from blocked to possibly blocked proceed with caution. Oil lamps were present to the rear of the freightliner train but had gone out. The ultimate blame was laid upon the lack of tail light. The recommendations were to replace all oil tail lamps with electric as soon as practicable.

Crew were looking for train but rear flt.s were empty!no taillight 3foot high was overlooked .I remember night turn lads in shock.awful accounts told.

I was one of the springs branch breakdown team that attended
the derailment. Very sad day for all involved.

A bad night indeed, I certainly needed a stiff drink before going to bed after that night shift!

Allow me to put the records Straight.
I read the report mentioned above on this web site, and it stated it was Signalman's error.
I can assure you this is not correct for the following reasons:-
I worked as a signalman in both Warrington power signal box, and Wigan No 2 signal box the site of the collision for many years, working with the signalman involved (now deceased.) for upwards of ten years.
First of all the signalling of trains through Wigan North Western Station was under the Permission Block Station Yard Working Rules, which allowed two trains to occupy a single section of track. This rule applied to passenger to passenger, and freight to freight trains, but not mixed.
Going back to Wigan No 2 signal box the home signal (WN 44 in Warrington Power box) was a two position colour light signal with route indicators, and cats eyes, worked from a switch on the NX panel. On acceptance of a train by the signalman in Wigan No 1, this switch was turned to the left,
which changed the signal from red to green. If the train was being diverted to platform one the signal would show green with the route indicator showing five white lights at an angle pointing north-west. If the points were set for a train to travel along platform eight, the signal would show green and the five route indicators would point north-east.
If the line ahead however was occupied by a train the cats
eyes would come into play, with the signal switch being
turned to the right. The signal would stay red, but two white lights would illuminate under the main aspect, indicating to the driver the line ahead was occupied. All the actions of the signalman were electronically controlled, so it was impossible for him to make a physical mistake.
When the Power signal box opened in September 1972, the home signal at Wigan No 2, was numbered WN 44 and made into a four aspect colour light signal, but nothing in relation to the signalling of trains changed, except, the operating of the signals were buttons and not switches.
One of the signalman's inspectors who went to the scene of the accident told me the tail lamp of the train on the freightliner train was out. (This of course could have been as a result of the collision.)
The freightliner train was stationary at the signal at the south end of the station and stretched all the way back to were No 2 signal box was situated.
Wigan North Western Station is open for twenty four hours and is permanently lit at night.
The signalman would operate signal WN44, which would show cats eyes indicating there was a train in front. Further, the driver of the train would obviously see the containers on the freightliner against the bright lights of the station, but unfortunately there was no container on the rearmost bogie, and would be invisible to him high up on his locomotive during the approach.
I can state as a result of this accident rules were issued indicating that from that date freightliner trains MUST have a container on the last bogie.
I consider this is the most feasible explanation to the cause of the collision, and no blame should have been attributed to any one person.

Stephen. Can I use this picture in a book I am writing about my 50 years working on the railways?

Very good comments tony.i remember n.w. platform staff saying the taillight was out.can I have a pound for every flt I photo with empty rear bogies? Regular past oxford road.

If I remember rightly my Father was on the shunter that night and saw the tail lamp was out. my understanding was he was on his way to report it when accident happened.

My grandfather was B Leonard the driver

My Father died in that crash that night. I remember going downstairs and the police lady telling me my dad was dead. The pain has never gone away.