Read this edition's corporate memory, written by Greg Morse.
The daily control logs often include incidents where a passenger train is dispatched against a red signal. Nine times out of 10, power is not applied and there’s no SAS SPAD. Sadly, that wasn’t the case on 16 April 1979.
The 19:40 from Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay was running on time when it crossed from the Down Fast to the Down Gourock Line under clear signals. It was made up of a 3-car Class 303, an electric multiple unit still known as a ‘Blue Train’, a name that referred to the Caledonian hue the class sported when new. Fading under British Rail’s corporate livery, they were still loved by passengers for their levels of comfort.
Within 10 minutes, comfort would vanish and the picture would darken as the diesel-powered 18:58 ex-Ayr service struck the ‘303’ with such force that the leading vehicle of the former rode up over the latter. Both drivers and five passengers were killed. The guard on the ‘303’ and 67 other passengers were also injured.
The investigation confirmed that the train from Ayr had started away from Platform 2 at Paisley Gilmour Street against a red signal (read the full report). The guard had given the ‘Right Away’ to the driver by sending two bells from the guard’s compartment. The driver had not checked the signal aspect. It was known as ‘dingding and away’. This time, it led to collision, death and injury.
As a result of the accident, the rules were changed so that the ‘Right Away’ can only be given when the starting signal has been cleared. This stands today in Rule Book module SS1, in which Section 3.1 clarifies that drivers must check that ‘the platform starting signal, if there is one, or an associated banner repeating signal, is showing a proceed aspect, or an associated ‘OFF’ indicator is illuminated’. Clarity is added in Section 3.4 such that if a driver gets the ‘Right Away’ while the platform starter is red, the train must not be moved without the signaller’s permission.
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