Incidents at the Watercress Line
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Watercress Line is a heritage railway in Hampshire, England, running 10 miles (16 km) from New Alresford to Alton where it connects to the National Rail network. The line has four stations and operates scheduled and special services. The line was opened as the Mid-Hants Railway in 1865 and was purchased by the London & South Western Railway in 1884.
The line was closed by British Rail in 1973 and sold to the present operator Mid-Hants Railway Ltd in 1975. The first section of the line between Alresford and Ropley was reopened in 1977, with the section to Medstead & Four Marks in 1983 and via Butts Junction to Alton in 1985. This article records a number of accidents and incidents on the line when operating as a heritage railway.
On 25 July 2006, the leading bogie of the BR Class 117 DMU forming the 10:50 service from Alton to Alresford derailed on points approaching Platform 2 at Ropley Station. The train was stopped within 20 metres of the point of derailment by an instructor who was in the cab with the driver. There were no injuries as a result of the incident and the train and track suffered limited damage.[1]
The immediate cause of the incident was the reversal of the points by the signalman at Ropley Signal box at the same time as the leading wheels of the train were passing over them. Causal factors were the confusion by the signalman about the exact location of the train and the lack of train-detection on the points, allowing them to be moved under a train.[1]
The RAIB has made six recommendations aimed at:[1]
- the provision of train detection on points;
- the operating of the electric token block system;
- the safety management system;
- the competence and medical standards for staff.
Since the accident, a new signal box has been opened at Ropley, with full interlocking, which will prevent a repeat of this incident. Also, fouling bars have been installed to prevent points being moved (when the Facing Point Lock is not in use).[2]
