The abbots Ripton incident - The carriage wreckage

no matter who we are we all make mistakes but it's what we learn from them that make us better people. Abbots Ripton is no exception. in this video we look at the collision, how it happened, why it happened and the aftermath which still has an influence on rail travel today.

[johnjephcote]

The signals had slotted posts and, displaying a white light (then depicting 'Clear') and the signal arm was snugly in the slot for 'Clear'. This led the GNR to adopt their distinctive 'Somersault' signals, (which I fondly remember). The arm is held out well clear of the signal post.

[lashondatalbert]

Im sorry but I have to ask. Where the express locomotives involved in the accident stirling singles?

[andrewscolari]

The UK seems to have done very well in leading the railway industry in safety procedures. When a wreck happens, they go over the wreck and once they find out how the wreck happened, they find ways to prevent a similar wreck from happening under the same circumstances and the railway owners readily agree with suggestions and put them into practice without fuss. Hear in the U.S while we did somewhat learn from wrecks and mishaps the owners of the railroad only put recommended safety procedures and features when the government forced them to. In fact, it wasn't till the1890s when safety features such as air brakes, automatic couplers and other safety features became mandatory by order of the Federal Government

[simonf]

They were slotted signals. So the on signal got stuck inside the signal post. And the on light was white. Easily confused with snow.