BBC News GNER Train slits in half near Granthem

johncas · Post by **johncas** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 6:52 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3427573.stm

Apprantly someone pulled the emergancy handle the trains brakes applied and the train split up rear coaches detached

Dont know how the coahces manages to un coupple

alex2008 · Post by **alex2008** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 6:56 pm

The back coach and power car got left behind.

jjules · Post by **jjules** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 6:59 pm

Dear God. That is most unusual.

If I knew how they were coupled in the first place I'd have a better idea of why it might have happened. I'm going to do some research...

Electricfox · Post by **Electricfox** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:06 pm

'sa bit Titfield Thunderbolt-ish, isn't it?

Still, at least no-one was hurt

jimbob · Post by **jimbob** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:09 pm

Well as far as I am aware, HST trailers are fitted with buckeye couplings like most loco hauled coaches, if there has been a failure in the buckeye then this will have major repurcusions throughout the country. Normally you would have to be stationary to uncouple buckeyes, then pull on the chain to release, then the driver has to draw back a little then can pull away. Obviously there is more to it than that but in general this is the principle.

nwallace · Post by **nwallace** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:12 pm

Says coaches G and F uncoupled.. presumably along with the rear power car.... also says that passengers carried on to Grantham in the front coaches.

So does that mean they had to walk along the lien to the rest of the train? or did the back car "back" up toi the rest?

Niall

jjules · Post by **jjules** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:13 pm

Hmm. If it is a failure, this will cause problems within the FGW fleet. Imagine taking 98% of your fleet out of use to fix/check couplers...

alex2008 · Post by **alex2008** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:13 pm

I bet the HSE will come up with something stupid like this:

All trains fitted with buck-eye couplings will now have a maximum speed of 35m.p.h. for safety reasons.

jjules · Post by **jjules** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:14 pm

jimbob · Post by **jimbob** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:16 pm

nwallace wrote:Says coaches G and F uncoupled.. presumably along with the rear power car.... also says that passengers carried on to Grantham in the front coaches.

So does that mean they had to walk along the line to the rest of the train? or did the back car "back" up to the rest?

Niall

Well in theory the whole train would come to a compleate stand due to the air pipes being spilt/severed, now unless the driver/guard closed the isolation taps the train would be imobilised so a track walk it must have been in my opinion!

alex2008 wrote:I bet the HSE will come up with something stupid like this:

All trains fitted with buck-eye couplings will now have a maximum speed of 35m.p.h. for safety reasons.

I can quite belive it!

Electricfox · Post by **Electricfox** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:17 pm

DON'T TEMPT THEM!!!!

That's just the sort of thing they'd do.
Health and Safety...prft!

jjules · Post by **jjules** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:21 pm

If I hear a news report tomorrow about the HSE and this incident, I'll not be too pleased...

alex2008 · Post by **alex2008** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:21 pm

Its high time the HSE were stripped of all their rights.

Yes I am aware that has been brought up by rail regulator.

petermakosch · Post by **petermakosch** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:25 pm

Watching this Topic

ForburyLion · Post by **ForburyLion** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:33 pm

petermakosch wrote:Watching this Topic

Why not just bookmark the topics by adding to favourites instread of typing a phrase you can search the forums for? If we all did it then most of the thread would consist of search markers!

Back on topic, Thank goodness nobody was walking between coaches when the seperation occurred and what if the rear of a train was left unnoticed on a line - How would the signal workers know the line wasn't clear? They send one train down the line and one train leaves the line! (minus a few coaches/wagons/power car!)