SIGNAL ERROR LED TO TRAIN SMASH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 68, 13 December 1937, Page 7

SIGNAL ERROR LED TO TRAIN SMASH

— Preai Assn.-

Death RoII Now 35 in Scottish Disaster WORST SINCE 1915

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(Received 13, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 11. It is officially stated that 35 were killed in the collision between an Edin-burgh-Glasgow express and a stationary Dundee-Glasgow train at Castlegary. The last body was extricated at 11 p,m. An appeal was issued for help to identify two men and three women. William Kinnear, the fireman on the Edinburgh train, who was thought to have been killed, has now been found to have had a remarkable escape. He suffered minor injuries and severe shock. The bodies of three men and one woman were recoveTed from the coach piled on the engine. The break of dawn Tevealed a harrowing spectacle. A hnndred men were still working with numbed fingers, the ghastly hush being broken only by the clank of a crane tearing away masses of twisted steel. The snow was turned into slush and the rescuers worked ankle deep. Many had come from the scene of a minor accident at Haddington 50 miles away and had not slept since Thursday night. Cameron Highlanders going home for Christmas leave were aboard the express. Some were injured, and otheTS effected gallant reseues. Despite the cold they took off their puttifcs and used them as bandages. Miners who were passing going to work used safety lamps. Alongside some of the bodies were Christmas toys which. the victims were taking to Glasgow. Several bodies are unrecognisable. It is feared that if any are alive they will perish from the cold. The smash was due to a signal error. The Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways will nndertake preliminary investigations preparatory to the holding of the official inquiry, the date for which has not yet been fixed. Their Majesties have sent a message of sympathy to the Castlegary sufferers and bereaved persons. A later message says that all the dead have now been identified. This is the worst smash since troop trains were wrecked at Gretna Green in 1915, resulting in 227 being killed and 250 injured.