Marden, Kent, 4th January 1969. The 20.00 Charing Cross to Ramsgate (8-CEP) ran into the rear of a parcels train which had restarted from a signal stop following a track circuit failure. There were 4 fatalities. The 20.00 passed a single yellow and red with no reduction in speed, and the driver (who died) apparently only made a full emergency brake application when he sighted the tail lamp of the parcels train. It was foggy, but this was not reported as causing any problems with signal sighting. The inspecting officer concluded that, expecting clear signals ahead, the driver simply 'relaxed his vigilance'. There was no AWS on the line at the time.
This was a bad weekend for public transport. Just a few hours later, in the small hours of 5th January, an Ariana Afghan Airlines Boeing 727 crashed on approach to Gatwick Airport, resulting in 50 fatalities - 48 on the aircraft, and 2 in a house which it demolished.
This was a bad weekend for public transport. Just a few hours later, in the small hours of 5th January, an Ariana Afghan Airlines Boeing 727 crashed on approach to Gatwick Airport, resulting in 50 fatalities - 48 on the aircraft, and 2 in a house which it demolished.