Cement train derails outside Carlisle

ON October 19, at around 19.55 the 6C00 17.15 Clitheroe-Carlisle was involved in a derailment at Petteril Bridge Junction, ¾ mile south of Carlisle station.

Seven loaded cement wagons in the train hauled by GBRf’s No. 66739 Bluebell Railway derailed, with two descending an embankment and one upending in the River Petteril. While fortunately there were no injuries, the derailment caused extensive damage to the permanent way and blocked access to both the Settle & Carlisle and Newcastle-Carlisle routes, resulting in considerable disruption to services.

Newcastle trains operated as far as Wetheral or Haltwhistle, while those on the S&C operated to Appleby, with a bus connection to Carlisle. Disruption continued into November, with no estimate of when the line would reopen when Rail Express went to press.

RAIB commenced an investigation the day after the derailment and commented on October 21 that early indications were that the derailment was almost certainly a result of a wheelset with false flanges encountering a set of switches that are part of the junction.