The famous steam locomotive Flying Scotsman was involved in a collision with a set of stationary passenger coaches at Aviemore station in Scotland last month. The accident resulted in injuries to several people and damage to the historic train.
What happened on September 29?
According to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), the incident happened shortly after 6pm on September 29, when the Flying Scotsman was preparing to leave Aviemore station after a day of excursion trips. The train was coupled to a set of coaches that were not part of its normal formation. As the driver moved the train forward, he did not realize that the coaches were still attached and collided with another set of coaches that were parked at the platform. The impact caused the Flying Scotsman’s buffer beam to bend and some of the coaches to derail.
How many people were injured?
The RAIB said that a number of passengers and staff were injured in the collision, with one passenger and one member of staff being taken to hospital. The passenger suffered a head injury and the staff member suffered a back injury. Both were discharged later that night. The other injured people were treated at the scene by paramedics. The RAIB did not specify how many people were on board the Flying Scotsman or the coaches at the time of the accident.
What is the Flying Scotsman?
The Flying Scotsman is one of the most famous and iconic steam locomotives in the world. It was built in 1923 and was the first steam locomotive to officially reach 100 mph in 1934. It also set a record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive in 1989, when it travelled 422 miles from London to Edinburgh. The Flying Scotsman has been restored and preserved over the years and is now owned by the National Railway Museum. It regularly runs on heritage railways and mainline tours across the UK.
What is the RAIB doing?
The RAIB has launched a full investigation into the cause and consequences of the accident. It will examine the actions of the train crew, the signalling arrangements, the coupling procedures, and the condition of the vehicles involved. It will also look into the safety management systems of the operators and any underlying factors that may have contributed to the accident. The RAIB will publish its findings and recommendations in a report in due course.
What is the future of the Flying Scotsman?
The extent of the damage to the Flying Scotsman and the coaches is not yet known. The National Railway Museum said that it was working with its partners to assess the situation and plan for repairs. It also said that it was too early to say how long it would take to restore the locomotive to its former glory. The Flying Scotsman had been scheduled to run several more trips this year, but they have been cancelled or postponed until further notice. The fans and admirers of the legendary train hope that it will be back on track soon.
