A shuttle service between Drayton Park and Old Street was used from 1 March 1975 until normal traffic returned on 10 March. [60], Services on the line had been suspended on the day of the crash. "As we were taking our gear down, firefighters were guiding casualties, covered in dust and grime, up the other escalators to safety, as well as to grab more equipment." Following the crash, extensive investigations found no mechanical fault with the train, track or signalling. When tested, all of the trains vital components and systems were working as intended. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. With the weight of the train piling up behind it, the 16-metre-long (52ft) front coach was crushed to 6.1 metres (20ft). It took a further four days to extract the last body, that of Newson; his cab, normally 91 centimetres (3ft) deep, had been crushed to 15 centimetres (6in). [95] The writer Laurence Marks, whose father died in the disaster, presented Me, My Dad and Moorgate, a Channel 4 documentary broadcast on 4 June 2006; he stated that he believed the crash was due to suicide by Newson. The passengers on the platform waiting for the train at Moorgate reported that the train continued onwards at a speed between 30-40 mph without stopping. Select from premium Moorgate Tube Crash of the highest quality. All rights reserved. "Suicide by the Driver in Moorgate Tube Train Disaster is a Possibility, Inspector Says". Find the perfect moorgate crash black & white image. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. [25] It was, and remains, the worst peacetime accident on the Underground.[26]. Firemen cut holes in parts of the structure, including in the floors and ceilings of the carriages through which it was possible to move, even if it meant crawling through some areas. Sadly, 74 people were badly injured and 43 people lost their lives. No need to register, buy now! Moorgate Tube Crash Memorial. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. A cause has never been established, and theories include suicide, that he may have been distracted, or that he was affected by conditions such as transient global amnesia or akinesis with mutism. Previously it had always been standard policy for the last signal indication before a buffer-stop or bay platform to indicate "clear" (green) light to the train driver and "caution" (single-yellow) light if the platform was partly occupied. He recalls: "When the decision was made, I was ordered to place myself between the tunnel wall and the train and support her while the surgeons carried out their procedure. In fact, his hand was still holding the brake. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. [8], From November 1966 the Northern City Line ran 1938 rolling stock. [40] The lamps and cutting gear used by the fire brigade raised the temperature to over 49C (120F) and oxygen levels began to drop. Instead the blame fell wholly on the 56-year-old driver, Leslie Newson. [64], The coroner's inquest was held between 14 and 18 April 1975. A message was sent from the London Fire Brigade headquarters to all fire stations in London; it estimated that there were still 50 people trapped and warned that "this incident will be protracted". 2023 Getty Images. It is considered the worst peacetime accident on the London Underground. We had to all be ordered out by senior officers to allow fresh crews to come in.". Some witnesses also believed that it was accelerating. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. [59] The rescue and clean-up operation involved the efforts of 1,324 firemen, 240 policemen, 80 ambulance men, 16 doctors and several nurses. EDDIE BRAZIL looks at the case. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. London Fire Brigade. Want more local news? London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and City of London Police attended. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Once the carriage had been removed, a doctor again checked for further signs of living casualties; none were found. 2023 Getty Images. It was only during the 1890s that the entire system switched to electricity and became the clean and environmentally friendly travel that commuters have become accustomed to in many major cities across the world. BBC News, "The Role of Hospital Medical Teams at a Major Accident", "Moorgate Tube Train Disaster: Part I: Response of Medical Services", "Dead Sober or Dead Drunk? was introduced on all trains entering passenger locations, and in 1978 the 'Moorgate Protection' system was introduced, which automatically applied brakes if the driver failed to do so. The suicide expert Bruce Danto stated of the overshoots, "that does not sound like misjudgment to me. Moorgate crash victims to be remembered with memorial in Finsbury Square By Tristan Barclay Share On the anniversary of the 1975 Tube disaster which killed 43 people a campaigner is set to. Theories include suicide, he was distracted, or that Newson was affected by transient global amnesia or akinesis with mutism leaving him unable to move. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Steve made his way through a two foot gap between the tunnel wall and the side of the train. The Moorgate tube crash occurred on 28 February 1975 at 8:46 am on the London Underground's Northern City Line; 43 people died and 74 were injured after a train failed to stop at the line's southern terminus, Moorgate station, and crashed into its end wall. He said: "Just above my newspaper I saw a lady sitting opposite me and then the lights went out. On February 28, 1975, a Northern City line train crashed into the end of the line wall at Moorgate in what would become the worst peacetime accident on the London Underground. [10][11], On 28 February 1975 the first shift of the Northern City Line service was driven by Leslie Newson, 56, who had worked for London Transport since 1969 and been driving on the Northern City Line for the previous three months. Les currently resides in London and is a freelance writer with a long standing passion for the unexplained and paranormal. The week before the Moorgate train crash, another guard had reported that Newsons train overshot the stop at another station. Shouts were made for any people trapped to respond; there were no responses and the site medical officer declared that all the remaining bodies in the wreckage were dead. Steve said: "A crew from Clapham had already cut a hole in the end of the train carriage and we used that to go through to the next carriage. Train 272 plowed on through this design and collided with buffers before striking the solid concrete wall beyond. The signalman on duty later reported that the train appeared to be accelerating as it passed along the platform. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. [41] A large electric fan was placed at the top of the escalators in an attempt to remedy the situation, but soot and dirt was disturbed and little draught was created; the machine was soon turned off. [29][d] The City of London Police also contacted the medical unit of BP at Britannic House, Finsbury Circus. The system was operational in all locations by 1984. Unearthed photos show the devastating aftermath of the Moorgate tube crash. Dimensions: 4096 x 2731 px | 34.7 x 23.1 cm | 13.7 x 9.1 inches | 300dpi The third car was damaged at both ends, more significantly at the leading end as it rode over the second. She died. This system is effective against any unauthorized vehicles that could potentially threaten scheduled services. Tap into Getty Images global-scale, data-driven insights and network of over 340,000creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. [62] Initial findings showed no drugs or alcohol in Newson's bloodstream, and there was no evidence of liver damage from heavy drinking. Newson and Harris made three further return trips before the train undertook its final journey from Drayton Park at 8:38am, thirty seconds late. [23] Javier Gonzalez, a passenger who was travelling in the front carriage, described the moment the train crashed: Just above my newspaper I saw a lady sitting opposite me and then the lights went out. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. He had covered both the notebook and manual in plastic to protect them, something the subsequent investigation thought "underlined the fact that Motorman Newson conducted himself in a most conscientious manner in respect of his job on the railway". London Underground had measures put into place if just such an occurrence was to ever take place. [2][3] The Tube was one of the safest methods of transport in Britain in 1975. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. It is considered the worst peacetime accident on the London Underground. They looked saw Newson sitting in the driver's seat. [25][61], The post-mortem was undertaken on Newson by the Home Office pathologist Keith Simpson on 4 March 1975. Sign up for MyLondon's FREE newsletters here. [66] An analysis of Newson's kidneys by the toxicologist Anne Robinson showed his blood alcohol level at the time of the post-mortem was 80mg/100ml. They looked saw Newson sitting in the drivers seat. However, when rescuers pulled him out of the wreckage four days after the crash, there were no indications that he had done anything to prevent injury to himself. Tests showed that Newson had a blood alcohol level of 80mg/100 mlthe level at which one can be prosecuted for drink-drivingthough the alcohol may have been produced by the natural decomposition process over four days at a high temperature. Forty-three people were killed. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. "In there we met a senior officer who asked us to get into the roof of a carriage. The Moorgate tube crash, 1975 - the incidents that changed history | London Fire Brigade Historical fires and incidents The Moorgate tube crash, 1975 The 1975 Moorgate tube crash. The most mysterious fact surrounding the crash came from two rail workers who were on the platform when Train 272 arrived. Collect, curate and comment on your files. 2023 Getty Images. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos . [74] He concluded that "the accident was solely due to a lapse on the part of the driver, Motorman Newson". 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London, UK ID: G2Y1XY (RM) Why did whatever happen, happen? We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Additionally, the speed limit for trains approaching platforms dropped to 10 mph from 15 mph. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack Find Moorgate Underground Rail Crash stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. McNaughton said he was perplexed as to the causes of the crash, but that he would proceed with the next part of his inquiry, which was to undertake further enquiries and to consider measures so the accident could not be repeated. A man examines the destruction of the Moorgate train crash. As he advanced past the first carriage, Steve found crews had already started working to release people trapped in the wreckage. Out of the tragic events came stories of selfless heroism as those that arrived at the emergency battled to save the lives of those hurt. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. With services stopped since the crash, no fresh air was reaching platforms 9 and 10. In the aftermath of the crash, London Underground introduced a safety system that automatically stops a train when it is travelling too fast. Moorgate_crash_memorial,_Finsbury_Square_(cropped).jpg&oldid=479261211" Categories: Finsbury Circus; Moorgate station; Monuments and memorials in the London Borough of Islington; All workers had to wear gloves and masks; any cuts had to be reported, and no-one with a cut was allowed to be involved in the extrication of a body. [32] One of the doctors from Barts later described the scene: The front carriage was an indescribable tangle of twisted metal and in it the living and the dead were heaped together, intertwined among themselves and the wreckage. Moorgate is an interchange between the Underground network and suburban overground services. The Moorgate tube crash occurred on 28 February 1975 at 8:46 am on the London Underground's Northern City Line; 43 people died and 74 were injured after a train failed to stop at the line's southern terminus, Moorgate station, and crashed into its end wall.