Runaway goods train from Ulverston yard June 1963 A down goods was being shunted for Ulverston yard. There was a rough shunt a missed coupling and the train rolled away with the Guards Van leading wrong line. The train was derailed at the Catch Points protecting the down advanced starter at Plumpton. Both lines were blocked fairly well. The loads included a Sulzer engine scheduled for maintenance at Barrow. Barrow crane was called out, and I think that Carnforth also came to assist. The derailment occurred either about lunch time or early afternoon. The residents of the local railway cottages heard the train running away, apparently it made a lot of noise, and were most concerned for the guard, but he was not on the train, presumably watching the coupling-up. He would take the full blame as he was, I believe, held responsible for not having enough brakes pinned down. Report from John Holmes-Higgin. [ Home ]
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