First person killed by steam train in nearly 60 years

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 12:58 · Archive

A person was struck and killed by the 34028 Eddystone steam locomotive at Hanwell station in west London on Wednesday morning.

A person was fatally struck by a steam locomotive at Hanwell station in west London on Wednesday morning, the first such death on the public railway in nearly 60 years. The 34028 Eddystone locomotive, operated by Southern Locomotives Ltd, was travelling from Southall depot to London Victoria to pick up passengers for the Armistice Steam Express, a Remembrance Day excursion.

The collision occurred at around 6.30am at Hanwell station, located between Ealing and Southall. Officers and paramedics attended the scene, and the person was pronounced dead there. British Transport Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and said a file would be prepared for the coroner.

The Armistice Steam Express was scheduled to depart Victoria at 9.05am and travel to Canterbury, with tickets priced at £115 for one adult. The trip was cancelled following the incident. Services on the Great Western Main Line were disrupted, including Elizabeth Line trains for most of Wednesday.

Southern Locomotives Ltd said in a statement: 'We are deeply saddened to confirm that a person has died after being struck by our locomotive 34028 Eddystone this morning at Hanwell Station, West London. Our immediate thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and loved ones of the individual involved and the train crew who witnessed the tragedy.'

An eyewitness told GB News that the person had jumped in front of the train. The witness also noted that Hanwell station does not have ticket barriers and said another incident had occurred eight days prior. Steam locomotives were withdrawn from regular passenger service by British Railways in 1968, but around 500 steam trains continue to run across the UK each year for special excursions and heritage routes.

How it is being reported

• Steam train kills pedestrian on Remembrance Day - first time in 58 yearsThe fatality led to lengthy delays and the cancellation of train services.Daily Express · 14 Nov, 12:45
• Steam train kills pedestrian for first time in nearly 60 years as locomotive strikes person en route to Remembrance Day tripA steam train has killed a pedestrian for the first time in almost 60 years as the locomotive struck a person en route to a Remembrance Day trip. The train was on its way to central London to pick up passengers before embarking on a trip on Wednesday at around 6.30am. But the journey was cancelled after a person, who has not yet been identified, was hit by the train at Hanwell station in west London, triggering widespread commuter chaos. Officers and paramedics swarmed the scene soon after the 34028 Eddystone struck the person, who was pronounced dead at the scene, British Transport Police…GB News · 13 Nov, 17:11
• First person killed by steam train in nearly 60 yearsA steam locomotive on its way for a Remembrance Day tour collided with a person on the railway in Hanwell, west London (Picture: Southern Locomotives Ltd) A person was fatally struck by a steam train on its way to an Armistice Day event in the first incident of its kind in almost 60 years. The…Metro · 13 Nov, 15:39
• First person in nearly 60 years is killed by steam engine as locomotive hits them on its way to pick up passengers for Remembrance Day tripThe locomotive was on its way to London to pick up passengers for a Remembrance Day trip when the incident occurred on Wednesday morning.Daily Mail · 13 Nov, 09:49

In this story: 34028 Eddystone · Southern Locomotives Ltd · Hanwell station · London Victoria · Armistice Steam Express · British Transport Police · Canterbury

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