In the early hours of 9 December 1982, a late-running sleeper service departed London Euston for Glasgow.

Ahead of it, a freight train had passed through Linslade Tunnel carrying prefabricated railway components. One of those components had moved beyond the loading gauge, struck the tunnel portal and fallen onto an adjacent line.

A routine decision then placed the sleeper directly in its path.

This episode examines the derailment at Linslade Tunnel, the death of driver William Plummer and the investigation which traced the accident back through a displaced load, an undetected obstruction and a prohibited shunting practice which had become accepted at one of Britain’s largest marshalling yards.

OPENING CREDITS

Music track: Epic Motivation by Aylex

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END CREDITS

Music track: Saved by Brothers by Aylex

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Signals to Danger is a UK railway history and safety podcast exploring rail accidents, incidents and the investigations that followed them. From historic railway disasters to modern rail safety and current events, each episode looks beyond what happened to understand why it happened, what was learned and how those lessons continue to shape the railway today.

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