Czesziafan
Member
- Joined
- 13 Jul 2019
- Messages
- 254
I recently came across some information about a very unusual rail incident way back in 1958 and wondered whether anyone had any more details about it.
What I have found out so far is that on Friday 5th September 1958 rail services in Kent were badly disrupted by the most severe thunderstorm to affect the UK in the 20th century. This was no ordinary summer storm but a true American style "supercell", with flash flooding, cricket ball sized hailstones, and at least 2 damaging tornadoes, which was widely reported in the press at the time. Fast forward to Eynsham station in Kent at the height of the storm at approximately 20.00 that Friday evening, and a Birkenhead to Dover Marine Lourdes pilgrimage special is stopped on the down line due to fallen trees obstructing the track at Shoreham, and it remained stranded there for the next 8 hours. During that time local villagers kept the passengers and crew supplied with tea and sandwiches, and used connected garden hoses to replenish the tender when the loco ran low on water. Ultimately at 04.00 the train managed to get away. Apparently some of the coaches had red cross emblems painted on their sides.
The train had left Birkenhead Woodside that afternoon and I would be interested to know what route it took to Kent. I surmise that it would either have used the ex-GW via Shrewsbury, Birmingham, and the ex-GW&GC line, or gone via Crewe and the WCML, to reach the West London Line to get on to the SR at Clapham. Does anyone know the route for certain? The reference in a press report to red crosses on some of the rolling stock is intriguing: did BR have ambulance cars at that time? I would also be interested to know what kind of motive power this train had: I would assume a Bulleid light pacific on the SR but does anyone know for definite?
I know this is a very long shot but any help or further info would be much appreciated.
What I have found out so far is that on Friday 5th September 1958 rail services in Kent were badly disrupted by the most severe thunderstorm to affect the UK in the 20th century. This was no ordinary summer storm but a true American style "supercell", with flash flooding, cricket ball sized hailstones, and at least 2 damaging tornadoes, which was widely reported in the press at the time. Fast forward to Eynsham station in Kent at the height of the storm at approximately 20.00 that Friday evening, and a Birkenhead to Dover Marine Lourdes pilgrimage special is stopped on the down line due to fallen trees obstructing the track at Shoreham, and it remained stranded there for the next 8 hours. During that time local villagers kept the passengers and crew supplied with tea and sandwiches, and used connected garden hoses to replenish the tender when the loco ran low on water. Ultimately at 04.00 the train managed to get away. Apparently some of the coaches had red cross emblems painted on their sides.
The train had left Birkenhead Woodside that afternoon and I would be interested to know what route it took to Kent. I surmise that it would either have used the ex-GW via Shrewsbury, Birmingham, and the ex-GW&GC line, or gone via Crewe and the WCML, to reach the West London Line to get on to the SR at Clapham. Does anyone know the route for certain? The reference in a press report to red crosses on some of the rolling stock is intriguing: did BR have ambulance cars at that time? I would also be interested to know what kind of motive power this train had: I would assume a Bulleid light pacific on the SR but does anyone know for definite?
I know this is a very long shot but any help or further info would be much appreciated.