There were no faults found in the subsequent inquiry with the train and officials concluded that the crash was caused by the 56-year-old driver, Leslie Newson, who died on impact. Whether his behaviour was deliberate or whether it was the result of a suddenly arising physical condition not revealed as a result of post-mortem examination, there is not sufficient evidence to examine, but I am satisfied that no part of the responsibility for the accident rests with any other person and that there was no fault or condition of the train, track or signalling that in any way contributed to it. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. If the pressure is reduced, the train's brakes are automatically applied. 91 Moorgate Tube Crash Premium High Res Photos Browse 91 moorgate tube crashstock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. The Moorgate train crash took place on February 28, 1975, at 8:46 am on the London Undergrounds Northern City Line. A doctor from the scene later described the accident in a medical journal called The Role of Hospital Medical Teams at a Major Accident. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. A passenger waiting to take the return journey stated that Newson appeared "to be staring straight ahead and to be somewhat larger than life". Accept Read More, Terrifying Letters: The Watcher House of Westfield, NJ. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Temperatures in the tunnel reached 33C and there was a risk of heat exhaustion as the firefighters worked under dark and dusty conditions with old style box lamps for light. [81] McNaughton's report found that there was insufficient evidence to say if the accident was due to a deliberate act or a medical condition. Did a mysterious medical condition render Leslie Newson unable to react or could he have been secretly suicidal? [16] Although pupils from the nearby City of London School for Girls would normally have been on the service at that time, the pupils had a day's holiday as the school was in use for external examinations. Sadly, 74 people were badly injured and 43 people lost their lives. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. [1] The first line opened in 1863 and by 1975 the network contained 250 miles (400km) of route track; that year three million people used the service each day. London, UK ID: G2Y1XY (RM) Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. It was obvious from an early stage that the main problem was the disentanglement of a heap of people, many of whom appeared to be in imminent danger of suffocation.". On 28 February he carried a bottle of milk, sugar, his rule book, and a notebook in his work satchel;[a] he also had 270 in his jacket to buy a second-hand car for his daughter after work. Our brief was to go further into the tunnel and start rescuing the trapped people. It was crushed from 16 metres long to just 6.1 metres. [71], On 19 March a memorial service was held at St Paul's Cathedral, London, attended by 2,000 mourners, including representatives of the emergency services and Newson's widow and family. The station contains ten platforms; numbers 7 to 10 are deep level, and numbers 9 and 10 are used for the Northern City Line service. A message was sent from the London Fire Brigade headquarters to all fire stations in London; it estimated that there were still 50 people trapped and warned that "this incident will be protracted". Northern City Line services into Moorgate ended in October 1975 and British Rail services started in August 1976. Available for both RF and RM licensing. The brakes were not applied and the dead man's handle was still depressed when the train entered the overrun tunnel, throwing up sand from the drag;[c] when the driver's cab crashed into the hydraulic buffer, the carriage was separated from its bogie and the coachwork was forced into the end wall and the roof. She died. Moorgate Crash Stock Photos and Images (153) Narrow your search: Black & white Page 1 of 2 Memorial to the Moorgate trash crash at Moorgate Station London in 1975 ID: E1PBTF (RM) Memorial plaque for the Moorgate Underground Station crash in 1975. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. [9] Weekly checks were made on the stock's brakes, doors and compressors; all equipment on the train was examined on a six-week basis and the cars were lifted from their bogies for a thorough examination once a year. As darkness came, there was a very loud noise of the crash, metal and glass breaking, no screams, all in the fraction of the second, one takes to breathe in. [19] Witnesses standing on the platform saw Newson sitting upright and facing forward, his uniform neat and still wearing his hat; his hands appeared to be on the train's controls as far as they could tell.[20]. When tested, all of the trains vital components and systems were working as intended. He informed the coroner that "it is generally accepted that as much as 80mg/100ml may make its appearance in a decomposing body after four days in a [relatively] high temperature". [86], Since the death of a driver in 1971, when an empty stock train crashed into buffers in a tunnel siding near Tooting Broadway, London Underground had been introducing speed controls at such locations. [70] On the final day of the inquiry, Roy Goulding, a specialist in the forensic examination of poisons, stated that while he reached the same results of 80mg/100ml, his conclusions differed from Robinson's; Goulding stated that as alcohol was naturally produced in the blood after death, it was not possible to confirm that Newson had been drinking prior to the crash. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. The station was named at one time "Moorgate Street". [77][78] During the inquest Harris testified that Newson had also overshot a platform three or four days before the accident, and a passenger had also reported a second overshoot by Newson that week. Select from premium Moorgate Underground Rail Crash of the highest quality. On February 28, 1975, the Moorgate train crash occurred inside a tunnel just outside the station during the morning rush hour and became London Undergrounds worst peacetime disaster. Using a device they dubbed Sand drag, any carriages that might be out of control were automatically diverted onto a siding or less dangerous track. The tunnel had been designed to accommodate larger main line rolling stock and so was wider than the standard tube tunnel width of 3.7 metres (12ft). [32] One of the doctors from Barts later described the scene: The front carriage was an indescribable tangle of twisted metal and in it the living and the dead were heaped together, intertwined among themselves and the wreckage. As he advanced past the first carriage, Steve found crews had already started working to release people trapped in the wreckage. [12] Newson was known by his colleagues as a careful and conscientious motorman (driver). After an inquiry, the accident was blamed on the driver who died in the crash. There were no electrical burns on his skin or clothing to indicate an electrical fault. . [15], The first return trips of the day between Drayton Park and Moorgate, which started at 6:40am, passed without incident. Find Moorgate Tube Crash stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Interesting history topics are just a click away. With services stopped since the crash, no fresh air was reaching platforms 9 and 10. Shouts were made for any people trapped to respond; there were no responses and the site medical officer declared that all the remaining bodies in the wreckage were dead. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options await you. The train carried approximately 300 passengers; it was a Friday and, as it was the peak of rush hour, most of the travellers were commuters. By the time it made an approach to Moorgate Station, there were 300 passengers on board. The London Undergroundalso known as the Underground or the Tubeis a public rapid transit system serving London and some parts of the adjacent counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. It was only when they worked their way along the tunnel that the situation was declared an emergency. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Theories include suicide, he was distracted, or that Newson was affected by transient global amnesia or akinesis with mutism leaving him unable to move. Why did whatever happen, happen? ", The cause of the accident remains a mystery, but following the disaster, a 10mph speed limit, previously 15mph, was introduced on all trains entering passenger locations, and in 1978 the 'Moorgate Protection' system was introduced, which automatically applied brakes if the driver failed to do so. Trouvez des images et des photos d'actualits de Moorgate Tube Crash sur Getty Images. Whenever a disaster of this magnitude occurs, the most obvious and pressing question is why? The crash forced the first carriage into the roof of the tunnel at the front and back, but the middle remained on the trackbed; the 16-metre-long (52ft) coach was crushed to 6.1 metres (20ft). The aftermath of a tube train crash at Moorgate underground station in London, February 1975. Les currently resides in London and is a freelance writer with a long standing passion for the unexplained and paranormal. So, what was going on with Newson on that fateful day? We were right at the very front of the train about 10 to 12 feet behind the driver's cab. Find the perfect moorgate tube crash black & white image. [22] The second coach was forced under the rear of the first, which buckled at three points into the shape of a V with a tail, and had its rear forced into the tunnel roof. In order to free Margaret from the wreckage, doctors had to amputate her foot. Want more local news? [2][3] The Tube was one of the safest methods of transport in Britain in 1975. 2023 Getty Images. The third car was damaged at both ends, more significantly at the leading end as it rode over the second. The first car had wedged itself into the roof of the tunnel. He received expert advice that even if Newson had drunk sufficient alcohol to achieve a blood alcohol level of 80mg/100ml, it would not account for the crash. All workers had to wear gloves and masks; any cuts had to be reported, and no-one with a cut was allowed to be involved in the extrication of a body. However, when rescuers pulled him out of the wreckage four days after the crash, there were no indications that he had done anything to prevent injury to himself. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Steve made his way through a two foot gap between the tunnel wall and the side of the train. Investigators said that he maintained his muscle tone and balance throughout the approach. However, the post-mortem examination of the driver showed no medical reason to explain the tragedy, nor had he displayed any suicidal tendencies leading up to the wreckage. During 1 and 2 March the wreckage of the second carriage was cut away in sections and winched free; clearance of the carriages continued round the clock until a break was forced by a telephoned bomb scare at 10:00pm on 2 March, which forced the crews to evacuate the station. His head was to the left of the dead man's handle which had been forced upwards, beyond its normal travel, and was resting on his right shoulder. Gordon Hafter, London Underground's chief engineer, and Lieutenant Colonel Ian McNaughton, the Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways, examined the driver's cab;[e] normally 91 centimetres (3ft) deep, it had been crushed to 15 centimetres (6in). I have the image of her face to this day. Steve and other firefighters were forced to take off their helmets, tunics, belts and axes just to fit through some of the gaps in the wreckage. "Many of the victims were writhing in agony and were screaming for individual attention. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Sign up to our daily newsletters for all the latest and greatest from across London here. Although this concept for a transportation system was first proposed in the 1830s, permission to construct was only granted in 1854. Steve added: " None of the crews working down there wanted to leave. Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 20:08, "An overview of the rail industry in Great Britain", Office of Rail and Road, "A brief history of the Underground", Transport for London, "Remembering the 1975 Moorgate tube crash". was introduced on all trains entering passenger locations, and in 1978 the 'Moorgate Protection' system was introduced, which automatically applied brakes if the driver failed to do so. They said: "The front carriage was an indescribable tangle of twisted metal and in it the living and the dead were heaped together, intertwined among themselves and the wreckage. It is considered the worst peacetime accident on the London Underground. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Find Moorgate Tube Crash stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. After the crash, Chief Fire Officer, Joseph Milner . The first trains were powered by steam. [34] The crash had thrown soot and dirt into the air from the sand drag, and from between the two metal layers of the tube carriages. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. The Moorgate tube crash occurred on 28 February 1975 at 8:46 am on the London Underground 's Northern City Line; 43 people died and 74 were injured after a train failed to stop at the line's southern terminus, Moorgate station, and crashed into its end wall. From X-rays it was clear that at the moment of the crash Newson's hand was on the dead man's handle. A buffer stop, which had once been hydraulic, but had not been functioning as such for some time prior to the crash, was at the end of the tunnel, in front of a solid wall. [92][93] On 28 February 2014 a memorial plaque was unveiled by Fiona Woolf, the Lord Mayor of London, on the side of the station building, in Moor Place. Select from premium Moorgate Tube Crash of the highest quality. They looked saw Newson sitting in the drivers seat. Before his shift began he had a cup of tea and shared his sugar with a colleague; he jokingly said to the colleague "Go easy on it, I shall want another cup when I come off duty". If the train passes any of these at more than 12.5 miles per hour (20.1km/h) the emergency brake is applied. Conditions were sweltering, with poor ventilation and temperatures of over 49 degrees. [80] Medical evidence presented to the inquiry raised the possibility that the driver had been affected by conditions such as transient global amnesia or akinesis with mutism, where the brain continues to function and the individual remains aware, although not being able to move physically. Browse 53 moorgate underground rail crash stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. The sights, smells and carnage I will never be able to forget, but I, along with others, will always be proud to say that I played a small part in a major rescue and recovery incident. Photo: London Fire Brigade. The passengers on the platform waiting for the train at Moorgate reported that the train continued onwards at a speed between 30-40 mph without stopping. "Suicide by the Driver in Moorgate Tube Train Disaster is a Possibility, Inspector Says". Many of the victims were writhing in agony and were screaming for individual attention. Forty-three people were killed. The second carriage concertinaed as it collided with the first carriage while the third rode over the back of the second. Sixty-one witnesses gave evidence. May Be Hard to Determine", "Plaque is Unveiled in Memory of Moorgate Tube Disaster victims", "Memorial for victims of Tube crash that killed 43", "Moorgate Tube Crash Memorial Unveiled in Finsbury Square", "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)", "An Overview of the Rail Industry in Great Britain", "Remembering the 1975 Moorgate tube crash", "Signals Passed at Danger on London Underground", "Fifty Years of the Breathalyser Where Now for Drink Driving? Collect, curate and comment on your files. It was only during the 1890s that the entire system switched to electricity and became the clean and environmentally friendly travel that commuters have become accustomed to in many major cities across the world. [60], Services on the line had been suspended on the day of the crash. Emergency services worked for 13 hours to removed injured people from the wreckage and the clean up and removal of dead bodies went on for four days after. In total, the rescue and clean-up involved 1,324 firefighters, 240 police officers, 80 ambulance crew members, 16 doctors and several nurses. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. [87], This accident also led to changes in signalling. [17], After the train departed Old Street on its 56-second journey to Moorgate, Harris was bored and left his position at the guard's control panelwhich contained the controls for the emergency brakeat the front of the rear carriage and walked to the back of the train to look for a newspaper. [85] Shortly after the crash, London Underground imposed a speed limit of 10mph (16km/h) for all trains entering terminal platforms. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. It is considered the worst peacetime accident on the London Underground. Relays switch the resistors out when the train is permitted to leave. 240 police officers were involved in the rescue, Extensive investigations found no mechanical fault with the train, track or signalling, Firefighters had to squeeze through tiny gaps, New rules on the Tube lines were introduced following the disaster. With no casualties remaining, the Fire Brigade were able to use flame cutting equipment. The engineers and investigators analyzed the remaining train and eliminated numerous considerations one by one. [65] David Paul, the coroner, was unhappy that a government inquiry had already begun, as evidence was in the public domain, and could affect the inquest's jury. [43] The Fire Brigade worked for several hours to release Benton, but it became apparent that Liles needed to be removed first, which could only be done by amputating her left foot. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Once there we found a carriage half at the platform and half into the tunnel but on a slant up into the ceiling. [4] Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. They looked saw Newson sitting in the driver's seat. The depth at which they were operating, and the shielding effect of the soil and concrete, meant their radios could not get through to the surface. To this day, the family and friends of the victims still suffer from the tragedy and the mysterious circumstances of that horrifying moment, and the debate about what may have happened continues. They ascertained that Newson was at his controls, although his head had been forced through the front window. [40] The lamps and cutting gear used by the fire brigade raised the temperature to over 49C (120F) and oxygen levels began to drop. [42], By 12:00noon only five live casualties were left to be extracted;[39] by 3:15pm only two were left: Margaret Liles, a 19-year-old Woman Police Constable (WPC), and Jeff Benton, who worked at the London Stock Exchange. The system was operational in all locations by 1984. Windows Photo Editor 10..10011.16384: File change date and time: 13:08, 29 January 2018: Exposure Program: Normal program: Exif version: 2.3: . From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Steve recalled meeting a scene of devastation at the Northern line station with twisted metal and access to those injured being near impossible. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Moorgate Crash (Flickr set) | District Dave's London Underground Site The Administration team are: Dstock7080, londonstuff, tom, rincew1nd and whistlekiller2000, The Moderator team are: antharro, Dom K, goldenarrow, metman, MoreToJack and superteacher. In the deep lines at Moorgate, ventilation is produced by the piston effect, created by trains forcing air through the tube lines. [27], On 7 March 1975 Anthony Crosland, the Secretary of State for the Environment, instructed McNaughton to undertake an investigation of the crash. The brakes were not applied and the dead man's handle was still depressed when the train crashed. The first call to the emergency services was received at 8:48am; the London Ambulance Service arrived at 8:54am[27] and the London Fire Brigade at 8:57am. It remains one of the darkest days in the history of the London Underground after a devastating crash left 43 people dead and 74 people injured. By the time of the Moorgate crash, 12 of the 19 locations had the equipment installed. Donald Dean and a team of two doctors and two nurses walked around to the station to assist, and were the first medical assistance at the scene. In his spare time he enjoys astronomy and Xboxing. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. There is no online registration for the intro class Terms of usage & Conditions [49] Those working on the platform or tunnel were restricted to 20-minute spells working, followed by 40minutes' recovery time on the surface.