Rail Accident Investigation Branch
The train, reporting number 6E54, was the 10.39 hrs service from Kingsbury Oil Terminal to Humber Oil Refinery. It consisted of a Class 60 locomotive and 22 empty, diesel fuel, tank wagons. The train was travelling at approximately 48 mph (77 km/h) approaching 101B facing points, when the driver reported that he saw a kink in the left-hand rail. Shortly afterwards, the trains brakes automatically applied bringing it to a stand.
Wagons 11 and 12 from the leading end had derailed, each by one bogie, and wagon 13 by both bogies. They had remained upright. The train had then separated at the trailing end of wagon 13 and there was a gap of about 250 metres to the rest of the train. The following six tank wagons, ie wagons 14 to 19, left the track completely and some rolled over. Wagon 20 was derailed by the leading bogie and wagons 21 and 22 remained on the track. The separation of the train had caused the continuous brake pipe to part applying the brakes to the whole train.
There were no injuries, however, substantial damage was caused to the infrastructure, including the points and signalling equipment. Sixteen of the wagons were later recovered by rail. Wagons 14 to 19 were recovered by crane and transported from the site by road. There were no reports of any leakage of diesel fuel residue from the tanks.
RAIB has obtained CCTV images of the site of the accident at around 12:45 hrs. These appear to show a track buckle forming close to 101B facing points. Further initial findings suggest that the design, operation and maintenance of the wagons, were not factors in the derailment.
Our investigation will examine the sequence of events leading up to and during the derailment, the maintenance of the infrastructure and its preparation for hot weather and any relevant management issues.
Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation; these will be available on our website.
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