Railway accidents in New South Wales

The railways of New South Wales, Australia have had several incidents and accidents since their formation in 1831.

Accidents involving loss of life

Locomotive No.1, 1858

This locomotive, built in 1855 by Robert Stephenson with three others for the first real railway line in New South Wales, was involved in two fatal accidents. The first occurred as a derailment on 10 July 1858. The locomotive was pulling two open 3rd Class carriages, a 1st and a 2nd Class carriage between Sydney and Parramatta. Near Homebush, the two 3rd Class compartments left the rails and toppled down and embankment. There were thirty people in the two carriages, of which two were killed, one a solicitor and the other a market gardener. In the ensuing investigation, reported in The Sydney Morning Herald, it was suggested that the problem was caused by damage to the hollow-cast rails which were not able to withstand the weight of the locomotive. Rail workers, some of whom witnessed the derailment, claimed that the problem was caused, at least in part, by the habit of loose-coupling the lightweight 3rd Class carriages in the same way as heavy goods trucks. The matter also drew to the attention of the managers the fact that the price of 1st class travel, at 4 shillings, was so exorbitant that even the wealthiest citizens of Sydney chose to travel in the open carriages.

The Newtown collision, 1868

On 6 January 1868 a man was killed when Locomotive No. 1 collided with a passenger train at Newtown Station. The locomotive was severely damaged and retired. It is now on display at the Powerhouse Museum. Newtown Station was at that time located west of the present station, its platform eventually forming part of the foundation of Crago's Flour Mill.

Emu Plains Collision, 1878

On the night of 30 January 1878 head-on collision between two goods trains. The drivers and firemen of both trains, together with a guard riding in the cab of the up train, were killed.

Bethungra train disaster, 1885

On 25 January 1885 the Melbourne-Sydney Express passenger train derailed near Bethungra, killing seven and injuring over 20. The cause was a washaway of a culvert (on Sandy Clay Creek?) during a period of heavy rainfall.

Peats Ferry, 1887

On the 21st June 1887, an excursion train from Sydney ran out of control down the steep Cowan Bank. There were two other trains full of holidaymakers standing at the platforms at Hawkesbury River railway station and disaster was only averted by the alert station master who could hear the roaring engine and frantic whistling. He dispatched a railway porter to throw the points lever open and divert the runaway down a siding that led to the new bridge site. The train lost speed along the railway causeway out to Long Island and collided with some empty wagons. The locomotive slid off the embankment and ended up partially submerged in the river. The engine driver was trapped in the cabin and drowned but the fireman escaped. The toll was six dead and seventy injured. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn,_New_South_Wales) (http://www.p2pconsortium.com/index.php?autocom=blog&blogid=53&showentry=470)

The Bathurst Accident, 1890

On 25 April 1890 an Up mixed train, after shunting at Kelso, climbed the 1 in 50 grade to Raglan where it again stopped to unload parcels as well as pick and set down passengers. The drawbar between the third and fourth vehicles broke, releasing the bulk of the train which commenced to run back down the hill, there being no continuous air-brake throughout the train. The runaway vehicles ran all the way down the grade, across the Macquarie River bridge and into Bathurst yard where they collided with the following goods train. Four passengers in the rear of the Mixed train were killed and three others injured.

Tarana, 1892

On the 27th April, 1920, eight passengers were killed by a derailment of the rear carriages of a western-bound mail train caused by a broken rail.

Redfern Rail Collision, 1894

11 passengers killed on 31st October.

Sydenham derailment, 1901

Further information: [[:Sydenham rail disaster]]

Seven people were killed and twenty six injured when a steam locomotive and two passenger cars derailed just south of Sydenham station.

Exeter, 1914

14 passengers killed on 16th March

Hurstville train disaster, 1920

On 30 August 1920 five people were killed when a train shunted into the back of a locomotive at Hurstville station.

The Aberdeen Accident, 1926

Derailment of Brisbane Express caused by faulty track and collapse of flood openings by washaways. Five persons were killed and 39 injured.

Murulla train accident, 1926

• Murulla runaway collision

Brooklyn, 1944

17 passengers killed on 20th June.

Rocky Ponds, 1948

4 passengers killed on 30th June.

Sodwalls, 1950

1 passenger killed on 3rd April.

Berala train collision, 1952

On 7 May 1952 in conditions of heavy fog, a fully laden passenger train ran into the rear of a stationary passenger train at Berala Station. Death toll was 10 with injuries to another 140 passengers. A belated commemoration service was held 50 years later.

Sydenham rail disaster, 1953

In the Sydenham rail disaster, a signal electrician was manipulating a failed track circuit relay, but was distracted and forgot to release the track circuit when the train passed, causing a wrong side failure and a collision.

Liverpool train collision, 1965

On 31 October 1965 a freight train collided with a stationary electric passenger train waiting to depart Liverpool station in Sydney's south western suburbs. One person was killed and four people were injured. The cause was the driver of the freight train having fallen asleep.

Heathcote train collision, 1970

On 29 October 1970 three people were killed when a rail motor collided into the rear of a stationary goods train.

Glenbrook, 1976

1 passenger killed on 16th January.

Granville railway disaster, 1977

Main article: Granville railway disaster

On 18 January 1977 Electric locomotive 4620 while hauling an 8-car train travelling from the Blue Mountains to Sydney derailed at Granville, hitting a row of supports of an overhead road bridge causing the bridge to collapse onto two passenger cars, of the derailed train. 83 people died and more than 200 were badly injured in this, thus causing Australia's worst railway disaster.

Wentworthville train derailment, 1989

On 27 December 1989 an eight car Tangara electric passenger train travelling west to Emu Plains became derailed just to the east of the station. Three of the eight carriages derailed, the rear car 6127 being destroyed by the impact with the platform and another, 5127 being condemned some months later. It was Cityrail's first major Tangara accident. A passenger who had to be cut from the wreckage of the rear car died later that day in Westmead Hospital.

Cowan train disaster, 1990

Main article: Cowan rail disaster

On 6 May 1990 an electric interurban train travelling south between Newcastle and Sydney collided into the back of a chartered heritage tourist train, killing six and injuring 99 people. The heritage train (led by steam locomotive 3801) had stalled on the Cowan bank, and dumped sand onto the track to increase traction resulting in a wrong side signal failure. Four fatalities resulted when the rear carriage of the heritage train was crushed by the impact from the electric interurban train. The driver and his cab companion in the electric train were also killed. An interim ban was placed on heritage train operation in New South Wales following this disaster.

Parkes, 1991

6 passengers killed on 6th May.

Muswellbrook, 1998

On 9 August, 1998 Two rail maintenance workers, 31 & 50 years, were killed when an empty coal train rounded a sharp bend at 70km/h & smashed into their truck, picking it up & spinning it into a cliff face. A third man who was on the tracks managed to leap to safety before the collision. The workers were part of 3 crews carrying out maintenance work on the Sandy Hollow-Ulan line near Muswellbrook. About 7am the maintenance trucks were travelling along a gorge area beside the line when workers in the last truck noticed the train approaching & tried to warn the truck in the middle. Two of the crew from the middle truck had left the cabin, one closing a gate & the other picking up rocks from the line, leaving 2 men in the truck. The collision threw the men from the cabin & dragged debris 100m down the line. Despite the workers in the other trucks waving at them, the truck had no time to move. The traindriver, a guard & 2 workers were taken by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Newcastle for counselling. Rail Services Australia, employers of the victims, announced an investigation into the fatal crash. The investigation would focus on why both the maintenance crew & coal train were on the tracks at the same time & why no warning was given.

Robertson, 1998

2 passengers killed on 19th May.

Glenbrook train disaster, 1999

Main article: Glenbrook train disaster

On 3 December 1999 an interurban passenger train collided with the rear of the Indian Pacific long distance passenger train waiting at a failed signal resulting in seven fatalities.

Waterfall train disaster, 2003

Main article: Waterfall train disaster

On 31 January 2003 a driver of a southbound interurban electric passenger train travelling from Sydney to Wollongong suffered a heart attack, causing the train to derail at high speed south of Waterfall station, resulting in seven fatalities and multiple injuries.

Albury, 2006

1 passenger killed on 5th June.

Back Creek, 2007

1 passenger killed on 10th March.

Accidents involving no loss of life

An incomplete list

Roseville Collision, 1950

Three trains collided between Roseville and Lindfield stations on 28 July 1950.

On the morning of 28 July there was a serious dislocation of train traffic caused by the overhead power wiring fouling the down and up lines at Auburn, resulting in a complete recast of the affected electric services. To provide a reasonable service on the North Shore line, trains were transposed at Central, resulting in delays to trains and causing trains to catch up to those in front. A down electric commuter train "tripped" past a signal showing stop at the down end of Roseville platform into the section occupied by the preceding train. After recharging the brake air supply, the driver proceeded at above a cautious speed and came into violent collision with the train ahead. At the same time an up train was passing and hit the emergency brakes but came into contact with the telescoped cars of the initial collision, tearing the sides of that train away. There were no cases of serious injury to passengers on the three trains. The collision resulted in 3 carriages telescoping into the length of 1 carriage and remarkably only 10 passengers were taken to hospital.

The subsequent enquiry placed the blame on the train driver, Francis Barrett. Barrett testified before the enquiry that his eyes had left the track due to an uncontrollable fit of coughing.

Waterfall collision, 1994

Two S-set electric trains collided in the early hours of the morning during a shunting procedure at Waterfall station in the south of Sydney. Both trains were empty of passengers. Carriages jack-knifed in spectacular fashion onto the platform causing demolition of a concrete ramp and part of the station canopy.

Beresfield Rail Collision, 1997

Further information: Beresfield rail accident

On 23 October 1997 a coal train collided into the rear of another coal train standing on the same tracks at Beresfield station near Newcastle. The cause was a failure to stop at a signal. Six people were injured including the station master and a commuter who jumped from the platform moments before the collision. The crash resulted in dozens of coal-wagons tumbling over the platform and across the tracks, closing all four tracks of the Main North Line and a virtual demolition of Beresfield station.

Concord derailment, 1998

On 9 June 1998 a Tangara passenger train on a southbound movement in the early hours of the morning derailed between Concord West and North Strathfield stations ending up partially in a local street, and almost completely blocking all North and Southbound rail lines. The cause was excessive train speed by the driver as he passed over points switching the train to a relief line at mainline speed. Pictures It was found that the Driver had insufficient warning of the turnout due to previously radioed information and very close signals.

Hornsby derailment, 1999

On 9 July 1999 four cars of an eight car electric passenger train were derailed when it was incorrectly diverted into a siding, causing the train to hit a gravel embankment and become entangled in powerlines. Three passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Blue Mountains train fire, 2000

On 25 July 2000 a westbound interurban electric passenger train caught fire requiring the evacuation of the train and the hospitalisation of six people. The cause was thought to be an electrical fault in the roof of the leading carriage.

Kingsgrove derailment, 2000

On 6 October 2000 an eight car Tangara train derailed at low speed near Kingsgrove station on the East Hills line, causing the rear three carriages to topple onto its side. The cause was a track twist as a result of very high temperatures. Ten people were hospitalised.

Hexham derailment and crash, 2002

On 12 July 2002 a coal train derailed at the Newcastle suburb of Hexham due to a points failure. A signalman closed two of the four tracks at the site to traffic, however a passenger train on one of the adjacent pair of tracks continued onwards to collide with the derailed coal carriages, injuring eight people. The cause was found to be a breakdown in communication between train and signalling staff.

Sefton Junction derailment, 2007

In the early hours of the morning of 17 January 2007, two diesel locomotives hauling a Melbourne to Brisbane freight train derailed at Sefton junction in the western suburbs of Sydney. Diesel fuel was spilt from the leading locomotive. Following the derailment, the accident crane used to lift the leading locomotive (a QRNational CLP class), toppled over trapping the crane driver, who was hospitalised after rescue by NSW Fire Brigades.

Homebush Derailment, 2009

In January a train headed for Bankstown overshot the platform at Homebush, passed the signal at stop and derailed on the catchpoints. One passenger was injured climbing the stairs to exit the station.

Blue Mountains derailment, 2010

On Thursday 4 February, a four car passenger train derailed between Woodford and Linden stations after hitting debris from a landslide. No one was injured.

Restoring citations

See also

• List of rail accidents