19th December 1973

The Ealing rail crash was an accident on the English railway system that occurred on 19 December 1973. The 17:18 express train from London Paddington to Oxford—with approximately 650 passengers on board—was derailed while travelling at around 70 mph (110 km/h) between Ealing Broadway and West Ealing.

Locomotive, Class 52 diesel-hydraulic number 1007 Western Talisman, had spent the previous night at Old Oak Common depot and had had its batteries recharged. A door on the battery box had been left unlocked and fell open shortly into the journey. It hit the platform at Ealing Broadway, breaking the arms supporting it and allowing it to swing down and hit a point operating machine. The points moved under the locomotive, throwing it onto its side and derailing the coaches, which came to rest across the tracks.

10 passengers were killed and 94 were injured.

39 Years. I wish it were 29 as that would mean that my 30th was next year rather than 40!