Driver accused of ‘showing off’ and ‘sheer recklessness’

THE driver of the train, 40-year-old Alexander Low, who suffered burns and lost an arm in the crash, went on trial accused of culpable homicide.

Colonel McMullen, inspecting officer of railways, accused Low of “sheer recklessness”, possibly “showing off” and “highly irresponsible actions”.

Low, he said, broke the rules by drinking alcohol and by carrying two unauthorised passengers on the footplate.

The train returning to Dundee from Tayport took a sharp curve in a tunnel at 50-55mph. The engine and tender overturned at Wormit station platform outside the tunnel. Four coaches were derailed.

During the trial, passenger Euphemia Taylor recalled how she could still feel the speed of the train.

“It was all very clear to me,” she said, “too clear, this terrible sensation of speed, and the train being out of control.”

The Rev John Innes, also travelling on the train, said it had gained momentum and was rocking as it entered the tunnel.

Another passenger, Mr A Mitchell of Dundee, said he saw sparks flying past the window and thought the engine was hitting the side of the tunnel.

The inspector said that while the picnic party were at Tayport, Low, fireman John Cowie and guard JB Mills and the crew of another excursion train had joined them in a recreation ground.

Mills and Cowie went to a shop for tea and then to a pub where they were joined by the guard of another train, D Thomson.

Thomson’s train was detained for about 20 minutes waiting for him while Low’s train left eight minutes late.

The men were said to have enjoyed two pints each.

Colonel McMullen’s report said: “This can be no case of misjudgement, and I attribute it to nothing less than sheer recklessness. I am unable to say whether

Low’s judgement had been affected by the drink, but on a hot day even a small amount of alcohol may have been sufficient to slow down his reactions and possibly make him a little reckless.”

McMullen said the train could have been travelling at up to 55mph, while experts said a derailment could not have happened at anything less than 50mph – twice the recommended 25mph.

The colonel suggested that the driver could have been showing off to the three unauthorised passengers on the footplate, all of whom died.

However, Low was found not guilty by a High Court jury at Perth in February 1956.

Main image: People rush to help passengers from the twisted carriages. Inset right: The scene as workmen cleared the wreckage.