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CASTLECARY TRAIN DISASTER
Heavy snow brought disaster to Castlecary
GLASGOW HERALD REPORT
Seventy years ago Britain was in the grip of a savage freeze. Snow fell heavily over much of the country during December, in some cases accompanied by thunder, lightning and gales. A snowstorm on December 8 across Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset left roads blocked, cars stranded and telegraph poles felled.
Even when the snow ended, the cold was so intense that on December 13 the temperature dropped to minus 21.7C (-7.1F) at Braemar, Aberdeenshire, the lowest in the UK for that decade.
On December 10, disaster struck the railway station at Castlecary, between Falkirk and Glasgow. Heavy snow that day had led to big delays, and by late afternoon showers of large, thick, snowflakes fell.
A local train was brought to a halt outside Castlecary station while the tracks were cleared. A few minutes later an express train from Edinburgh to Glasgow ran through a danger signal at about 70mph — in the heavy snow and fading light, the train driver had not seen the signal.
The express train smashed into the back of the stationary train, hurling its engine 100 yards down the track. Both trains were full of commuters and shoppers, and 35 people were killed and 179 injured. It was Britain’s worst snow-related rail crash.
BBC NEWS REPORT
Village memorial to rail disaster
Villagers in Castlecary in North Lanarkshire are to unveil a tribute to those killed in a horrific rail disaster more than 70 years ago.
Thirty five people died and 179 were injured after two trains collided in the village in December 1937.
The incident is among the worst rail disasters in Scotland's history.
The memorial, which features an authentic rolling stock locomotive wheel, will be placed in the village's memorial garden.
Until now, the only sign that the crash had happened in Castlecary was a small plaque placed near the rail track by Falkirk councillor Billy Buchanan.
Following Mr Buchanan's interest, villagers in Castlecary began a campaign to have a lasting memorial installed.
Albert McBeath, secretary of the local community council, said putting in place a fitting memorial to those who died in the disaster had become a big deal to villagers.
He said: "There was a sense among people that there really should have been something more to say that this terrible thing had happened.
"People felt very strongly about it and wanted to do something.
"Now that it's been done the village feels like a weight has been lifted and there's a great sense of pride at what we've achieved."
The train crash happened in the evening of 10 December 1937 in heavy snow when the Edinburgh to Glasgow commuter express hit a late running Dundee train at Castlecary station.
Investigations after the incident found a signaller error was to blame.
Local politicians, including the provosts of North Lanarkshire Council and neighbouring Falkirk Council will attend the unveiling of the memorial on Saturday.
The memorial was created after the Scottish Railway Preservation Society donated two railway sleepers and pieces of track. A local couple donated the locomotive wheel.
TRIBUTE TO
SGT MAJOR SHANKS
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Above is a picture of Sgt Major Shanks while he was stationed in India with the 1st Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders.
Sgt Major Shanks was born in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh on the 11th of September 1911. His Father was also from Edinburgh and his Mother was from the Island of Skye.
Sgt Major's Father was killed in action which left his widowed wife to look after her 3 Children. Sadly she to died, and the Children were brought up by their Auntie who came from Skye.
Sgt Major Shanks survived the Castlecary Train Crash, although he was critically burned and injured.
Happily one and a half year later Sgt Mjr Shanks met and married his beautiful wife Mollie in August 1940.
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