45401 first withdrawn black 5 (photo)

Hi All

I came across this photo amongst the ones from Tony Gillett, it is of Black 5 45401 which i believe was the first black 5 to be withdrawn after a collision at Dallam MPD with Jubilee 45630 Swaziland, the photo is not very good but for historical content i have added it.
Both locos Black 5 45401 & Jubilee 45630 Swaziland both looking pretty banged up at Dallam mpd 6th August 1961
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.n ... 82274.html

Neil

 

The cab appears buckled on the side, but the crew possibly escaped in better condition than if they had been in the cab of a diesel.

 

The boiler survived though. It was reused and actually continued in service until 4/8/68

 

4th August... which one was it on at the end ?

 

44809

Boiler x9371, which was fitted new to 5251, and had also been on 45231 during its life.

 

Seems an awful lot of damage for a depot accident which would presumably have been at relatively slow speed.

 

I can't find the source now, so I'm working on memory from many years back, but this is how I heard it. The 5X was coming off shed at Dallam with the pointwork set for this movement, so the mainline signals had to be at danger. The Black Five was on a passenger working, and ran through the signals to collide at some speed head on-with the light engine, the Five going over on to its side. Apparently it was a particularly messy accident, which which completely blocked all running lines and took some time to clear up.

The view shows the side on to which the Five overturned, the actual collision damage being to the other side.

 

Information taken from Bellcode book Railways Around Warrington.
The Warrington area was being resignalled when the accident took place. 45401 was pulling an express freight northwards and the crew were confused by the signalling. 45630 had just come off Dallam Loco and was crossing from the down to the up. It was struck by 45401 while it was doing this movement. The fireman of 45630 later died from his burns.