The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Scottish rail stations to fall silent in tribute to crash victims.
TRAGEDY: Minute’s silence will be held at 9.43am – one week after derailment
A minute’s silence will be held across the country on August 19 to mark one week since the Stonehaven rail tragedy.
All railway stations in Scotland will come to a standstill at 9.43am – the time the incident was reported on August 12.
Other stations south of the border, including those of Abellio-owned and Network Rail managed stations, will also fall silent.
The incident claimed the lives of three people – driver Brett Mccullough, conductor Donald Dinnie and passenger and former Blairgowrie man Christopher Stuchbury.
Tributes were paid to all three men in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Alex Hynes, Scotland’s Railway managing director, said: “Scotland’s Railway, and the railway across much of Britain, will fall silent on Wednesday to mark the passing of Brett, Donald and Christopher.
“Our hearts remain broken and will do for a long time. We hope that by coming together as a railway family, along with the local community and people across the country, we can support one another through this horrendous time.
“The strength of support and offers of help from railway colleagues across the rest of Britain has been a real source of comfort.”
Off-duty conductor Nicola Whyte walked for three miles to raise the alarm. She was one of the passengers on board at the time.
An early assessment of the tragedy by Rail Accident Investigator Branch, which is separate from the investigation by British Transport Police and the Office for Road and Rail, found a landslip as the train was returning north to be the cause.
The 6.38am Aberdeen to Glasgow train had left on time but a decision was made to turn back after another train driver close to Laurencekirk reported a landslip covering the northern line between Carmont and the Mearns town.
“Our hearts remain broken and will do for a long time. ALEX HYNES
It was on its way back to Stonehaven when it derailed.
The track curved, while the train continued in a straight line for around 90 metres before the front carriage – known as the power car – struck a bridge parapet. The power car then fell down a wooded embankment, followed by the third carriage.
The first passenger carriage came to rest on its roof, having rotated to a right angle to the track. The second passenger carriage also overturned on to its roof and came to rest on the first carriage.
The fourth passenger carriage remained upright and attached to the rear power car – it also came to rest on the first carriage.
The rear power car remained completely upright, but all of its wheels had come off the tracks.
It was then Nicola Whyte made her way out of the wreckage to the signal box to raise the alarm, despite being injured in the crash.