Toilet floor missing on SDR Mk 1

Investigations are under way after a Mk 1 Open Second (TSO) on the South Devon Railway was found in traffic with the floor of a toilet compartment missing.

Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is looking into the incident, which occurred on June 22 on the 1300 Totnes Riverside-Buckfastleigh. The train was travelling at around 20mph when a passenger and a small child attempted to enter the toilet in the coach, which was the fourth in the train.

On opening the door, they discovered the hole and the mother was able to catch hold of the child, preventing him from falling. He suffered minor bruising and both were shocked.

The incident was reported to the guard, and the lavatory door was secured. It was reported to RAIB on June 25.

The coach had been put into traffic following repairs to its braking system, which had required the removal of the floor. It had not been replaced, and staff had placed a notice on the compartment door and attempted to secure it, thus preventing it from being opened.

RAIB will investigate the events leading up to the incident, including the repairs to the coach and actions taken to put it back into service, the adequacy and suitability of the measures to secure the door, the SDR’s safety management system (including arrangements for managing the competence and fitness of the staff of the carriage and wagon department), and the systems in place for assuring the safety of rolling stock in service.