22nd May 1915

MGR1 · 05-22-13, 06:15 AM

Today is the 98th anniversary of the Quintinshill rail disaster, Britain's worst ever in terms of deaths:

http://en.wikipedia....l_rail_disaster

http://www.railbrit....page/maymorning

http://www.railwaysa....php?eventID=85

The irony of men going off to fight for king and country and actually losing their lives on British soil is sobering, to say the least.

Memorial to the men of 7th Royal Scots:

http://www.geograph....k/photo/2934486

Let us not forget.

Mike.

Oberon · 05-22-13, 07:29 AM

A terrible, terrible tragedy. Thank you for bringing this up MGR, I honestly didn't realise that it was the 98th anniversary. Hard to believe that it will soon be 100 years.

BossMark · 05-22-13, 07:33 AM

Very bad and very sad what happened there indeed.

Jimbuna · 05-22-13, 02:05 PM

I had no idea...very tragic indeed.

MGR1 · 05-22-13, 03:39 PM

The best and, I think only, book dealing with the accident is "Gretna: Britain's Worst Rail Disaster" by John Thomas. My dad managed to get a copy off of e-bay a while back and, although quite short, it's a very good book. I'd challenge anyone to read the introduction and not feel the hairs on the back of their necks tingle.

This quote from Lt. Col. Druitt's accident report is taken from the front of the book:

"The force of this collision was such that the length occupied by the engine and fifteen coaches of the troop train after the collision was only about 67 yards, while its length when running was 213 yards."

Mike.

Jimbuna · 05-22-13, 03:55 PM

^ Hard to imagine but demonstrates very well the forces of the impact involved.

05-22-13, 06:15 AM	#1
MGR1 Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom Posts: 980 Downloads: 252 Uploads: 0	22nd May 1915 Today is the 98th anniversary of the Quintinshill rail disaster, Britain's worst ever in terms of deaths: http://en.wikipedia....l_rail_disaster http://www.railbrit....page/maymorning http://www.railwaysa....php?eventID=85 The irony of men going off to fight for king and country and actually losing their lives on British soil is sobering, to say the least. Memorial to the men of 7th Royal Scots: http://www.geograph....k/photo/2934486 Let us not forget. Mike. __________________ "I am the battleship Jean Bart. This name originates from a certain 'respected' privateer... Yes? You want to know what privateers are? Hmph, they are pirates that rob openly under the banner of their country." Jean Bart from the mobile game Azur Lane.

05-22-13, 07:33 AM	#3
BossMark Fleet Admiral Join Date: May 2011 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire Posts: 15,272 Downloads: 278 Uploads: 0	Very bad and very sad what happened there indeed. __________________ Never trust the Tories look what Thatcher and Major did in the 80s and 90s and look what the wicked witch May is doing now doing now

05-22-13, 02:05 PM	#4
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,526 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I had no idea...very tragic indeed. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

05-22-13, 03:39 PM	#5
MGR1 Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom Posts: 980 Downloads: 252 Uploads: 0	The best and, I think only, book dealing with the accident is "Gretna: Britain's Worst Rail Disaster" by John Thomas. My dad managed to get a copy off of e-bay a while back and, although quite short, it's a very good book. I'd challenge anyone to read the introduction and not feel the hairs on the back of their necks tingle. This quote from Lt. Col. Druitt's accident report is taken from the front of the book: "The force of this collision was such that the length occupied by the engine and fifteen coaches of the troop train after the collision was only about 67 yards, while its length when running was 213 yards." Mike. __________________ "I am the battleship Jean Bart. This name originates from a certain 'respected' privateer... Yes? You want to know what privateers are? Hmph, they are pirates that rob openly under the banner of their country." Jean Bart from the mobile game Azur Lane.

05-22-13, 03:55 PM	#6
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,526 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	^ Hard to imagine but demonstrates very well the forces of the impact involved. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

05-22-13, 07:29 AM	#2
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	A terrible, terrible tragedy. Thank you for bringing this up MGR, I honestly didn't realise that it was the 98th anniversary. Hard to believe that it will soon be 100 years.