Remembering the Carlisle Mayday Disaster:
Naming 66308 Signalman Willie Taylor
The man who prevented death and destruction in the Citadel station
01 May 24

On the morning of 1st May 1984 an Intermodal train from Liverpool to Glasgow split just south of Carlisle. It had been subject to attention earlier in its journey, but the 'corrective action' resulted in the rear wagons being unbraked and a coupling uncoupled. Signalman Taylor recognised that something was amiss from indications on the PSB pane, realising the train had split and separated. Through years of experience and sound judgement he could see that potentially the runaway part of the train could cause signifcant damage and probably fatalities in the Citadel station where a London train would soon depart.

He decided to run the locos and front portion into A Road at the station but immediately that portion had passed Upperby Bridge Junction, diverted the uncontrolled rear portion onto the Goods Lines. Travelling at over 60 miles an hour over the 20mph limited lines, the rear portion derailed close to the bridge over the River Caldew and the containers piled up in the river.

Forty years on, through the initiative of his family, GB Railfreight agreed that loco 66308 could be named Signalman Willie Taylor.

This video records the naming ceremony, which followed on from 66308 being driven around what remains of the path of the speeding wagons from Upperby Junction to Bog Junction.

All video is copyright Leslie Gilpin Railways.
Photos as attributed.

These links give more information.

Contemporary TV Reports:
   • 4 minutes.mp4  

A documentary to mark the anniversary:
   • Carlisle Crash  

For a view inside Carlisle Power Signal Box
   • Inside Carlisle Power Signal Box: Cel...  

The times shown on clips are for guidance only and shouldn't be taken as definitive.

Any observations are my own and not intended to show any authority and may show my misunderstanding.

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