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Derailment at Berkhamsted Station
On 12 June 1968, just before 6 p.m., a southbound freightliner derailed passing through Berkhamsted Station on the Up Fast line. Much damage was done to the track, both in the station and for about half a mile to the south-east. There was superficial damage to station buildings, but fortunately no injuries. How different things might have been had the train been an express bound for Euston!
As it happens, it was found that the two Slow lines were unaffected, and commuter services were resumed quickly, though with many delays. I think it took about five days before all four lines were open again.
This incident occurred soon after electrification. That is in itself irrelevant, but there was also a process of installing Continuous Welded Track (CWT) on Britain’s main lines, which meant for much smoother running (oldies will recall the previous “de-de-de-doh”). One problem was that CWT was difficult to maintain in position during high temperatures (June?). The other was that the track through the station formed an S-bend, curving left and then immediately right, without even the space for a short straight section between. That imposed more than the usual amount of stress on the rails which could lead them to buckle. That seems to be what happened here.
Five years later, on 6 June 1973, a similar accident occurred at Berkhamsted, this time on the Down Slow line. (No photos – sorry.) On that occasion a couple of wagons derailed, but the train kept going until brought to a halt by signals at Tring. Again the problem was track buckling just north of the station, on a June evening when the rail temperature (as distinct from the air temperature) might have been at its highest. Fortunately this problem seems to have been overcome.
As it happens, it was found that the two Slow lines were unaffected, and commuter services were resumed quickly, though with many delays. I think it took about five days before all four lines were open again.
This incident occurred soon after electrification. That is in itself irrelevant, but there was also a process of installing Continuous Welded Track (CWT) on Britain’s main lines, which meant for much smoother running (oldies will recall the previous “de-de-de-doh”). One problem was that CWT was difficult to maintain in position during high temperatures (June?). The other was that the track through the station formed an S-bend, curving left and then immediately right, without even the space for a short straight section between. That imposed more than the usual amount of stress on the rails which could lead them to buckle. That seems to be what happened here.
Five years later, on 6 June 1973, a similar accident occurred at Berkhamsted, this time on the Down Slow line. (No photos – sorry.) On that occasion a couple of wagons derailed, but the train kept going until brought to a halt by signals at Tring. Again the problem was track buckling just north of the station, on a June evening when the rail temperature (as distinct from the air temperature) might have been at its highest. Fortunately this problem seems to have been overcome.
Created: Sun, 1 Jan 2023, Updated: Sun, 1 Jan 2023
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