Home - Signals to Danger

In 2020 1.8 billion rail journeys were made in the UK...

what happens when it all goes wrong?

Signals to Danger is a podcast that tells the stories of the darkest days of the UK rail network. Join us as we find out what happened, why it went wrong, and how we stop it from happening again.

The story of disaster

Each episode tells the detailed tale of the day of the accident, the who, where and how of each accident

The fingertip search

We tell the tale of how investigators descend on the scene, what they found and how they found it.

A new way forward

The disasters of the past improve the safety of the future, we close each episode by explaining how

Latest episodes

December 20, 2021 by Dan

Episode Notes

Season 2 – Ep. 3 – Clayton Tunnel

On a peaceful Sunday morning in 1861, an everyday journey…

December 9, 2021 by Dan

Episode Notes

Season 2 – Ep. 2 – Glanrhyd Bridge

On a dreary October morning after heavy rainfall and widespread…

November 27, 2021 by Dan

Episode Notes

Season 2 – Ep. 1 – Quintinshill

Season Two kicks off with the story of Quintinshill. At…

Signals to Danger – The UK rail disaster podcast Follow

A rail themed podcast exploring the worst and most significant disasters on the UK rail network. Secret alter ego of (produced by) @danielfoxrail

Signals to Danger – The UK rail disaster podcast @signalstodanger ·

27 Jul

I’ve just overheard a woman referring to her sickness preventing medication as her anti-semetics. I hope she made a mistake…

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Herne Bay Railway Historian @hernebayrailway ·

19 Jul

A system for protecting trains,
Sykes block instruments were used by signallers for sending and receiving trains between locations using bell codes.
The “Railways of Herne Bay – A Journey Through Time” exhibition
@seasidemuseum until Sat 23rd July.

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Signals to Danger – The UK rail disaster podcast @signalstodanger ·

12 Jul

Any ideas signallers?

Estelle Wolfers 🕷⭐ @EstelleRW

There are two distinct trains of thought (sorry) on the station on this postcard: Caledonian or SVR, but as we can’t find *any* footbridge like this, it could be somewhere else entirely. @RHummBooks have you any ideas on this one?

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Signals to Danger – The UK rail disaster podcast @signalstodanger ·

1 Jun

Got an opportunity yesterday to get on the footplate of Union of South Africa at @BuryTransMuseum. Was really interesting to get a look at some of the kit that was retrofitted to this 1937 steam loco to allow it to run on the mainline. Vibes from our Tangmere episode back in S1.

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Signals to Danger – The UK rail disaster podcast @signalstodanger ·

21 Apr

Finally regained the Internet today after the house move. Things are living in the correct rooms for the most part as well. It has been a very challenging slog to get to this point however! Time for services to resume I reckon. Patience appreciated and see you soon!

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Signals to Danger

The UK's rail network is one of the safest in the world, but this is a reputation that has been hard-won through a dark history of death and destruction. Each of these accidents has helped to prevent another in the future.
Signals to Danger is a series of Podcasts exploring and explaining the worst disasters on the UK rail network. Using reports, inquiries, news articles, and first-hand accounts, we will dive deep into these accidents and understand what went wrong, who was affected and how each incident went on to change the railway going forwards.