DMU Accident

Chester General Station, LMR - 08/05/72

The 19:31 Ellesmere Port - Mold Jcn freight train ran away at Guilden station. Led by Class 24 5028 it contained 38 tank wagons and eventually collided at around 20mph at 20:51 with empty Class 108 50946 + 56229 in bay platform 11 of Chester station. The loco ended up partially on top of the DMU, forcing it over the stop block onto the platform. The driver-trailer car demolished a wall of the station refreshment room losing its bogies and destroying its cab, the DMBS disintegrated as the loco ran over it. A serious fire broke out almost immediately, spreading to an adjacent empty 2-car DMU standing in Platform 12 (formed 51197 + 56338) completely gutting DTC M56338, and to three coaches of the 19.15 Bangor - Crewe (formed 56195 + 50402 / 56154 + 50407 / 51195 / 56341) due to depart platform 10 at 20:58. Two of the DMBSs on this train (M50407 and M51195) were also completed gutted.

The fire was eventually extinguished at 00:20. There were no fatalities or serious injuries reported. The damaged vehicles were initially removed to the goods yard.

The images below are from the official accident report.

DofE; 37/7/74; 16pp; (Major P.M. Olver).

A series of images of the aftermath can be found on the Chester Live website.

Five DMU vehicles were withdrawn on 18/6/72 as a result of the incident; Class 108 set 50946 / 56229 (from 9A); Class 103 50407 and Class 101 51195 / 56338 from 6A. The most seriously damaged — 50946 — is recorded as being cut up by BR staff at Chester Depot. The other four were sold to John Cashmore Ltd of Great Bridge moving there in December 1972 for disposal.