On 16 January 1976, a New South Wales 46 locomotive collided with the rear carriage of a New South Wales V set commuter train at Glenbrook, killing one person onboard and injuring ten others.[1] The collision occurred when the V set broke down and had transmitted a wrong-side signal, subsequently leading to the locomotive colliding with the train.[2]
On 18 December 1975, Allen Sorenson, the SPTC governor, predicted that a "major rail disaster" could occur anytime on the Main Western Line between Emu Plains and Lithgow.[3]
On 16 January 1976, locomotive 4622, a 46 class locomotive, left Darling Harbour Yard at 8:20 pm local time, bound for Orange. Approximately one hour later, a V set electric train left Central station bound for Mount Victoria at 9:30 p.m. local time. There were 40 passengers onboard the train at the time that the train stalled.[1] The V set passed through Glenbrook Tunnel, and shortly after, broke down and stalled 500 metres (1,600ft) before Glenbrook railway station. Shortly after the train stalled, the driver at the front and the guard at the back left their positions to talk to each other, which ultimately saved their lives.[1]
Incident
At 10:45 p.m., the locomotive collided with the V set, smashing into the back carriage, DCF 8004. This killed 1 passenger.[1][3] The locomotive was also damaged in the collision. It hit with such force that it pushed the V set 50 metres (160ft) forward, simultaneously inverting the face at the back of the train (see photo), and derailing two of the V set's carriages.[1] One of the wagons of the locomotive overturned and nearly fell into a deep ravine, leading to the powerlines being brought down, blocking the track.[1]
Rescue and Retrieval
Immediately after the collision, rescue services were hastily sent to the location of the crash. Five out of the ten passengers injured were sent to Penrith Hospital (now called Nepean Hospital).[1]
Many passengers were able to get off the train after the collision; however, twelve passengers were trapped in the upper level in the rear car by 1:30 a.m. on 17 January.[1]
On 17 January, the rear carriage was cleared and was moved to clear the railway line.[2][4] It was meant to be rested on an embankment, but it overbalanced and fell 400 metres (1,300ft) down a deep gorge, where it broke in half on the way down.[4] It settled on the gully at the bottom of the gorge which was part of the Blue Mountains National Park. It therefore led to the National Parks and Wildlife Services issuing a directive to the Public Transport Commission saying that they wanted the carriage to be removed from the national park.[4] The only way to accomplish this was to cut up the carriages and lift them out using RAAF helicopters from the nearby RAAF Glenbrook.[4]
Aftermath and Cause
This accident was caused by a wrong-side signal failure. The automatic signal behind the V set displayed "caution" when it should have been at "danger", thereby admitting the following locomotive into the occupied signal section.[5][2]
In 2009, a memorial plaque was erected to commemorate the victims of the 1999 Glenbrook rail accident. The only victim of the 1976 collision was also commemorated in the plaque.[6]
‡ indicates railway accidents and incidents resulting in at least 20 fatalities § indicates the deadliest railway accident in Australian history
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