This film is part of Free
Fatal Train Smash
The clean-up begins after a Royal Scot Class express passenger train derails near Leighton Buzzard
Overview
Lunchtime on Sunday 22 March 1931: the LMS Royal Scot Class passenger express to Scotland derails approaching Leighton Buzzard station, wrecking the first five carriages, including the still sparsely populated kitchen and dining cars. Six lost their lives, including the driver, fireman and cook – the gruesome task of recovering their bodies from the wreckage still underway as the newsreel camera arrived.
Built in 1927, engine No. 6114 - the Coldstream Guardsman - had left London Euston at 11:30 bound for Glasgow and Edinburgh. Approaching Leighton Buzzard it was intended to divert to the slow line due to engineering work. For reasons that may never be known, the warnings to reduce speed were not obeyed until it was too late. Watching the cranes pick up the shattered pieces in this film, it's a wonder that the majority of over 200 passengers and staff walked away unharmed. The train would get back on the rails and stay in service until 1963.
Related
Railways for Ever! Railways for Ever!
Documentary 1970 7 mins
Sir John Betjeman reminisces about the phasing out of the mainline steam operation.
The Kiss in the Tunnel The Kiss in the Tunnel
Comedy 1899 2 mins Silent
A snatched kiss in a railway tunnel, played by real-life married couple GA Smith and Laura Bayley
A Mug's Game, Or, How to Squash a Lemon Head A Mug's Game, Or, How to Squash a Lemon Head
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1967 4 mins
Yo-yo, Pogo and Splat (guess which one's the lemon head?) feature in this innovative stop-motion railway safety film
The Long Drag The Long Drag
Documentary 1963 51 mins Location: Settle
Not just a chance to see locomotives steaming over viaducts, with the axe hanging over both, here we have the full glory of the Settle to Carlisle line, and its place in rural life.
Great North of Scotland Railway Films Great North of Scotland Railway Films
Amateur film 1963 26 mins Silent Location: Aberdeen
Train enthusiast David Gordon, Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair, films a stunning array of steam engines as they whistle through the colourful Scottish countryside in the 1960s.
Terminus Terminus
Documentary 1961 35 mins Location: Waterloo Sta
The daily rhythms and dramas of Waterloo station are captured in John Schlesinger’s influential early film.
Aerial Views of Leighton Buzzard Aerial Views of Leighton Buzzard
News 1965 3 mins Silent Location: Leighton Buzzard
Pre-dating Google Earth, Anglia TV offers a fresh perspective of the newly amalgamated Leighton Buzzard and neighbouring Linslade, with aerial views of the Bedfordshire town.
If I Make It To The Morning If I Make It To The Morning
Drama 2024 9 mins
A Chinese teenager dreams of living with her cool aunt in New York, until tensions boil over during a crab dinner.
We’ll Go Down in History We’ll Go Down in History
Documentary 2025 25 mins
Two years in the life of TRUK United FC, a beacon for positive change and trans inclusivity in football.
Dragfox Dragfox
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 8 mins
A child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) learn to embrace their differences in this heart warming stop-motion animation.
Wait, Wait, Now! Wait, Wait, Now!
Drama 2024 13 mins
A Maori and a Kiwi teen buddy up to raid their mum’s wardrobe and pucker their lips with red.
NGGAK!!! NGGAK!!!
Drama 2024 8 mins
‘I pronounce you wife and wife.’ A young couple design their perfect wedding online, but then mum dials in.
Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.