2023 Getty Images. Robert Harris, the 18-year-old guard who had started working for London Underground in August 1974, was late and joined the train when it returned to Moorgate at 6:53am; a driver waiting to go on duty took his place until his arrival. The horrific incident killed 43 people and left 74 passengers injured. [59] The rescue and clean-up operation involved the efforts of 1,324 firemen, 240 policemen, 80 ambulance men, 16 doctors and several nurses. Forty-three people were killed. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. There were no electrical burns on his skin or clothing to indicate an electrical fault. When all was said and done, the Moorgate Tube Crash had left 43 dead and 74 injured, making it the worst peacetime accident in the history of the London Underground, which at the time typically smoothly serviced 3 million people a day with few accidents and was considered one of the safest forms of transportation around. [89][90] Resistors were placed in the traction supply of trains, to prevent a train accelerating when entering the platform, although the value of these resistors had to be changed after installation. Sixty-one witnesses gave evidence. "Many of the victims were writhing in agony and were screaming for individual attention. Newson was the last body to be extracted and firefighters found his cab, which is usually 91 centimetres deep, had been crushed to just 15 centimetres. With no casualties remaining, the Fire Brigade were able to use flame cutting equipment. [34] By 9:30am Moorgate and many of the surrounding roads had been cordoned off to allow space for the co-ordination teams above ground to manage the flow of vehiclesparticularly for ambulances taking casualties to hospitals. The depth at which they were operating, and the shielding effect of the soil and concrete, meant their radios could not get through to the surface. In the aftermath of the crash, London Underground introduced a safety system that automatically stops a train when it is travelling too fast. The second carriage concertinaed as it collided with the first carriage while the third rode over the back of the second. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. However, that was not the only tragedy, nor the biggest, to befall the London Underground network. [33], By around 9:00am the last casualty had been removed from the third carriage. A Net Inceptions project. A man examines the destruction of the Moorgate train crash. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. In July 1978, approval was given for Moorgate protection, Moorgate control or Trains Entering Terminal Stations (TETS) to be introduced at all dead-end termini on manually driven lines on the Underground system. Moorgate_crash_memorial,_Finsbury_Square_(cropped).jpg&oldid=479261211" Categories: Finsbury Circus; Moorgate station; Monuments and memorials in the London Borough of Islington; Although this concept for a transportation system was first proposed in the 1830s, permission to construct was only granted in 1854. There is no online registration for the intro class Terms of usage & Conditions All rights reserved. Measuring 1.2 by 0.9 metres (4ft 3ft), it was unveiled in July 2013 after a long campaign by relatives of the victims and supporters. When tested, all of the trains vital components and systems were working as intended. Moorgate Tube Crash Memorial. It was impossible to estimate the number [of casualties] involved with any degree of accuracy because the lighting was poor, the victims were all tangled together, and everything was covered with a thick layer of black dust. Last night Mark's mother Janice, 61, and sister Melanie, 40, were at his bedside after flying out from their home in Mansfield, Notts. Disasters and Accidents - Moorgate Tube Crash - Memorial Service - St Paul's Cathedral RM Image ID: G7HRWB Preview Image details Contributor: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo File size: 32 MB (1.1 MB Compressed download) Releases: Model - no | Property - no Do I need a release? Les currently resides in London and is a freelance writer with a long standing passion for the unexplained and paranormal. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and City of London Police attended. To this day, the family and friends of the victims still suffer from the tragedy and the mysterious circumstances of that horrifying moment, and the debate about what may have happened continues. Newsons post-mortem examination revealed that there were no signs of cardiac problems nor of a condition such as epilepsy. Conditions were sweltering, with poor ventilation and temperatures of over 49 degrees. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 2023 Getty Images. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. The most mysterious fact surrounding the crash came from two rail workers who were on the platform when Train 272 arrived. Tap into Getty Images global-scale, data-driven insights and network of over 340,000creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. [27], On 7 March 1975 Anthony Crosland, the Secretary of State for the Environment, instructed McNaughton to undertake an investigation of the crash. I have the image of her face to this day. This system is effective against any unauthorized vehicles that could potentially threaten scheduled services. [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. While we were working on the roof of the cab, Paddington's crew were working on freeing a woman below.". Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 2023 Getty Images. Steve made his way through a two foot gap between the tunnel wall and the side of the train. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. [28] At around the same time the City of London Police alerted nearby St Bartholomew's Hospital (Barts) that "a tube train had hit the buffers" at Moorgate, but there was no indication at that stage of the seriousness of the crash. Collect, curate and comment on your files. [74] He concluded that "the accident was solely due to a lapse on the part of the driver, Motorman Newson". It was obvious from an early stage that the main problem was the disentanglement of a heap of people, many of whom appeared to be in imminent danger of suffocation. Moorgate Crash Stock Photos and Images (153) Narrow your search: Black & white Page 1 of 2 Memorial to the Moorgate trash crash at Moorgate Station London in 1975 ID: E1PBTF (RM) Memorial plaque for the Moorgate Underground Station crash in 1975. "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." From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. The force of the impact crushed the first two and a half cars of the train into half their proper lengths. After the crash, Chief Fire Officer, Joseph Milner . In order to free Margaret from the wreckage, doctors had to amputate her foot. They said: "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. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos . Have a story you think we should be telling? Tests were later done on trains entering platform 9 at slow speed. The courage of those two individuals will remain in my mind forever. [8], From November 1966 the Northern City Line ran 1938 rolling stock. So, what was going on with Newson on that fateful day? No fault was found with the train, and the inquiry by the . If the pressure is reduced, the train's brakes are automatically applied. Collect, curate and comment on your files. According to the London Fire Brigade (LFB) when rescuers reached the platform they found the front three carriages had been crushed together and the station in total darkness. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. [2], Moorgate station, in the City of London, was the terminus at the southern end of the Northern City Line, five stops and 2.6 miles (4.2km) from the northern end at Drayton Park. 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. The first car had wedged itself into the roof of the tunnel. 2023 Getty Images. A survivor of the crash, Javier Gonzalez, told the BBC what it was like to be in the front carriage. I have the image of her face to this day. London Underground (LU) said a faulty motor may have caused the accident which saw at least 30 people injured when the train jumped the tracks and hit a wall at Chancery Lane . Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. He said: "Just above my newspaper I saw a lady sitting opposite me and then the lights went out. The second carriage was concertinaed at the front as it collided with the first, and the third rode over the rear of the second. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moorgate_tube_crash&oldid=1142152045, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 20:08. [31] The Fire Brigade undertook a brief inspection of the site and, once they saw what they were dealing with, the status was updated to a Major Accident event; additional ambulances and fire tenders were soon sent. There were no faults found in the subsequent inquiry with the train and officials concluded that the crash was caused by the 56-year-old driver, Leslie Newson, who died on impact. [38][39] The fire brigade deployed a small team with "Figaro", an experimental radio system that worked in deep locations. "Signals Passed at Danger on London Underground". In the deep lines at Moorgate, ventilation is produced by the piston effect, created by trains forcing air through the tube lines. [34] Working conditions for the emergency services became increasingly difficult throughout the day. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. [22] The second coach was forced under the rear of the first, which buckled at three points into the shape of a V with a tail, and had its rear forced into the tunnel roof. READ MORE:Heartbroken family desperate for answers after dad's body is found in North London pond. She died. Oxygen levels dropped from the norm of 21per cent to 16per cent and the smell of decomposition from the bodies trapped in the wreckage was noticed by workers. [b] According to staff on duty his behaviour appeared normal. The brakes were not applied and the dead man's handle was still depressed when the train crashed. The front and back of the first carriage was forced up into the roof of the tunnel while the middle section remained on the track. The week before the Moorgate train crash, another guard had reported that Newsons train overshot the stop at another station. Select from premium Moorgate Underground Rail Crash of the highest quality. The train carried approximately 300 passengers; it was a Friday and, as it was the peak of rush hour, most of the travellers were commuters. 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. As he advanced past the first carriage, Steve found crews had already started working to release people trapped in the wreckage. Get in touch ian.molyneaux@reachplc.com. The most mysterious fact surrounding the crash came from two rail workers who were on the platform when Train 272 arrived. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. It is considered the worst peacetime accident on the London Underground. In fact, his hand was still holding the brake. [44], The use of the flame cutting equipment had a detrimental effect on the atmosphere on the platform. You May Also Like: Five Strange Trains Around the World. He wept as he tried to relive the moments leading up to the crash, near Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain, on Wednesday. Steve recalled meeting a scene of devastation at the Northern line station with twisted metal and access to those injured being near impossible. Select from premium Moorgate Tube Crash of the highest quality. If the train passes any of these at more than 12.5 miles per hour (20.1km/h) the emergency brake is applied. [18], On arrival at Moorgate at 8:46am, the train, which comprised two units of three connected cars, did not slow. [92][93] On 28 February 2014 a memorial plaque was unveiled by Fiona Woolf, the Lord Mayor of London, on the side of the station building, in Moor Place. 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). "As darkness came, there was a very loud noise of the crash, metal and glass breaking, no screams, all in the fraction of the second, one takes to breathe in. No fault was found with the train, and the inquiry by the . One of the key areas of the entire network is Kings Cross, the scene of a devastating fire in late 1987. His post-mortem found no medical reason to explain the accident and a definite cause has never been established. It is considered the worst peacetime accident on the London Underground. 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. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. [64], The coroner's inquest was held between 14 and 18 April 1975. A memorial has been unveiled for the 43 people who died in the Moorgate Tube crash in 1975. The sights, smells and carnage I will never be able to forget, but I, along with others, will always be proud to say that I played a small part in a major rescue and recovery incident. [49] Those working on the platform or tunnel were restricted to 20-minute spells working, followed by 40minutes' recovery time on the surface. [34] The crash had thrown soot and dirt into the air from the sand drag, and from between the two metal layers of the tube carriages. [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. What they dont know is why it happened. Find Moorgate Tube Crash stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Browse 53 moorgate underground rail crash stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Sign up for MyLondon's FREE newsletters here. According to Joseph Milner, the chief fire officer of the London Fire Brigade, the body gave "the first indication of how protracted would be the work ahead". As a result of the incident, extra safety measures have been put in place. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. [35] To make a clear passage through the wreckage for equipment, the emergency services and injured commuters, a circular route was organised through the carriages. Prints & Wall Art Photo Books With services stopped since the crash, no fresh air was reaching platforms 9 and 10. It was a situation that sharply brought into focus the outdated safety measures of the time. Interesting history topics are just a click away. 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. The first call to the emergency services was received at 8:48am; the London Ambulance Service arrived at 8:54am[27] and the London Fire Brigade at 8:57am. [36] At 10:00am a medical team arrived from The London Hospital and set up a makeshift operating theatre on a platform near the triage team. It was all over in no time. [46] During the day mouth-to-mouth resuscitation had been needed to save two people, and two victims died of crush syndrome soon after being released from the wreckage. 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. A six-day rescue operation followed, involving 1,324 firefighters, 240 police officers, 80 ambulance workers, 16 doctors and numerous volunteers. SourcesNational ArchivesRail MagazineBBC On This Day. [83] The last London Underground services on the Northern City Line ran into Moorgate on 4 October 1975 and British Rail services started in August 1976, having previously terminated at Broad Street station. Did a mysterious medical condition render Leslie Newson unable to react or could he have been secretly suicidal? HGV driver tries to warn motorist moments before crash 1 users rated this 4 out of 5 stars 1. After an inquiry, the accident was blamed on the driver who died in the crash. On February 28, 1975, the Moorgate train crash occurred inside a tunnel just outside the station during the morning rush hour and became London Undergrounds worst peacetime disaster. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Many of the victims were writhing in agony and were screaming for individual attention. READ MORE: 'I explored the secret link on the London Overground with an abandoned station in posh Primrose Hill'. [99], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}513106N 00519W / 51.5182N 0.0886W / 51.5182; -0.0886. Available for both RF and RM licensing. 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. The station contains ten platforms; numbers 7 to 10 are deep level, and numbers 9 and 10 are used for the Northern City Line service. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 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. Following the Moorgate accident, signalling was changed to give an approach-controlled delayed yellow aspect when the line was clear to the buffer-stops and red plus a subsidiary aspect (two white lights at 45 degrees) when the line or platform was partly occupied. No need to register, buy now! They were in the front part of the first carriage at the time of the crash and ended up trapped together, pinned down under the girders of the carriage's structure. London Underground introduced the Moorgate protection system which automatically stops a train if it is travelling too fast. After the third carriage was cut free from the second, at 1:00am on 1 March the third carriage began to be winched back down the track; as it began moving a body that no-one had seen fell from the wreckage and onto the track. Using a device they dubbed Sand drag, any carriages that might be out of control were automatically diverted onto a siding or less dangerous track. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. [52] The last passenger was removed from the front carriage at 3:20pm on 4 March, which left only the driver's body. May Be Hard to Determine", "Plaque is Unveiled in Memory of Moorgate Tube Disaster victims", "Memorial for victims of Tube crash that killed 43", "Moorgate Tube Crash Memorial Unveiled in Finsbury Square", "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)", "An Overview of the Rail Industry in Great Britain", "Remembering the 1975 Moorgate tube crash", "Signals Passed at Danger on London Underground", "Fifty Years of the Breathalyser Where Now for Drink Driving? [87][88], At Moorgate's platform 9, three timed train stops were installed; the first at the scissors crossing, the second at the start of the platform and the third halfway down the platform. The station is a terminus, yet the train failed to stop at its southern end and crashed into the end wall of the tunnel. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. [82], London Underground services into Moorgate on the Northern City Line had previously been scheduled to be replaced by British Rail services from Welwyn Garden City and Hertford; the accident did not change the plan. [19] Witnesses standing on the platform saw Newson sitting upright and facing forward, his uniform neat and still wearing his hat; his hands appeared to be on the train's controls as far as they could tell.[20]. They ascertained that Newson was at his controls, although his head had been forced through the front window. The Department of the Environment conducted an inquiry into the crash and determined that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the train. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. [15], The first return trips of the day between Drayton Park and Moorgate, which started at 6:40am, passed without incident. It took 13 hours to remove the injured, many of whom had to be cut free from the wreckage. On the morning of 28 February 1975, a train entered Moorgate Station on the London Underground's Northern City Line. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. [43] The Fire Brigade worked for several hours to release Benton, but it became apparent that Liles needed to be removed first, which could only be done by amputating her left foot. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Collect, curate and comment on your files. [1] The first line opened in 1863 and by 1975 the network contained 250 miles (400km) of route track; that year three million people used the service each day. Moorgate is an interchange between the Underground network and suburban overground services. He wrote that tests showed no equipment fault on the train, and that the dead man's handle had no defect. A shuttle service between Drayton Park and Old Street was used from 1 March 1975 until normal traffic returned on 10 March. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack The last of the 43 fatalities removed from the scene was the trains driver, a 56-year old father of two, Leslie Newson. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. [81] McNaughton's report found that there was insufficient evidence to say if the accident was due to a deliberate act or a medical condition. [71], On 19 March a memorial service was held at St Paul's Cathedral, London, attended by 2,000 mourners, including representatives of the emergency services and Newson's widow and family. Find Moorgate Underground Rail Crash stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos . We had to all be ordered out by senior officers to allow fresh crews to come in.". There was no evidence to indicate either condition: to positively diagnose akinesis with mutism would depend on a microscopic examination of the brain, which was not possible because of decomposition, and transient global amnesia leaves no traces. The second car had lodged beneath the first, while the third had traveled over the second and collided with the first into a mangled mess. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. McNaughton investigated the possibility that Newson may have been daydreaming or distracted to the point that he did not realise the train was entering Moorgate. Select from premium Moorgate Tube Crash of the highest quality. Firefighter Steve Gleeson, who was part of Lambeth blue watch that day, said: "We were immediately told to get our spreading and cutting gear and take it down to the platform level. Unearthed photos show the devastating aftermath of the Moorgate tube crash. Unearthed photos show the devastating aftermath of the Moorgate tube crash. By the time it made an approach to Moorgate Station, there were 300 passengers on board. [27] The jury returned verdicts of accidental death. With no services running into the adjoining platform to produce the piston effect pushing air into the station, ventilation was poor and temperatures in the tunnel rose to over 49C (120F). At the end of platform 9 in 1975 was a red warning light atop a post, situated in front of a 61-centimetre-high (2ft) sand drag placed to stop overrunning trains. Northern City Line services into Moorgate ended in October 1975 and British Rail services started in August 1976. Investigators understood the mechanism by which the Moorgate train crash occurred. [62] Initial findings showed no drugs or alcohol in Newson's bloodstream, and there was no evidence of liver damage from heavy drinking. [42], By 12:00noon only five live casualties were left to be extracted;[39] by 3:15pm only two were left: Margaret Liles, a 19-year-old Woman Police Constable (WPC), and Jeff Benton, who worked at the London Stock Exchange. She was finally removed from the wreckage after the procedure at 8.55pm; Benton was removed at 10:00pm. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. In total, the rescue and clean-up involved 1,324 firefighters, 240 police officers, 80 ambulance crew members, 16 doctors and several nurses. The illness is incurable and. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. She added "there are so many unknown factors here that it is difficult to be precise and definite. I must conclude, therefore, that the cause of this accident lay entirely in the behaviour of Motorman Newson during the final minute before the accident occurred. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. [48], Work on removing the bodies and clearing the wreckage from the tunnel began after the last casualty had been removed. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. The Moorgate train crash took place on February 28, 1975, at 8:46 am on the London Undergrounds Northern City Line. He appeared calm and sat upright as he looked directly ahead as if he was unaware that he was passing through a scheduled stop when the train collided with the barrier. His head was to the left of the dead man's handle which had been forced upwards, beyond its normal travel, and was resting on his right shoulder. A buffer stop, which had once been hydraulic, but had not been functioning as such for some time prior to the crash, was at the end of the tunnel, in front of a solid wall. The crash forced the first carriage into the roof of the tunnel at the front and back, but the middle remained on the trackbed; the 16-metre-long (52ft) coach was crushed to 6.1 metres (20ft). EDDIE BRAZIL looks at the case. [85] Shortly after the crash, London Underground imposed a speed limit of 10mph (16km/h) for all trains entering terminal platforms. Any faulty components were direct results of the impact and not the cause of it. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. 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. At 8.46am, the tube failed to stop at the southern terminus and collided with the wall, crushing its carriages. The engineers and investigators analyzed the remaining train and eliminated numerous considerations one by one. Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 20:08, "An overview of the rail industry in Great Britain", Office of Rail and Road, "A brief history of the Underground", Transport for London, "Remembering the 1975 Moorgate tube crash". Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Train 272 plowed on through this design and collided with buffers before striking the solid concrete wall beyond. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. As darkness came, there was a very loud noise of the crash, metal and glass breaking, no screams, all in the fraction of the second, one takes to breathe in. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. It appeared that Newson had not reacted at all. 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. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. [17], After the train departed Old Street on its 56-second journey to Moorgate, Harris was bored and left his position at the guard's control panelwhich contained the controls for the emergency brakeat the front of the rear carriage and walked to the back of the train to look for a newspaper. Want more local news? [9] Weekly checks were made on the stock's brakes, doors and compressors; all equipment on the train was examined on a six-week basis and the cars were lifted from their bogies for a thorough examination once a year.