Hi.

After the tragic event in Canada of the runaway oil tanker train I was reminded of the oil tanker train derailment in Summit Tunnel in 1984 on the L&Y route between Leeds/Bradford and Manchester. The cause of the the derailment was a sheared axle. Fortunately there was no train running in the opposite direction and the driver of the tanker train escaped along with the locomotive and first four wagons. It must have been really horrendous for him. However, oil escaping from a ruptured tank caught fire and there was nothing the fire service could do and the fire was left to burn it's self out. I was working at Mill Lane Junction at Bradford Interchange at the time ( and for the next ten years). The removal of the remains of the train, repair of the tunnel lining and track laying took several months and a temporary timetable was introduced. I had a friend in the fire service and he got me some official photos and a sample of fire damaged brick. The latter I mounted on a wood base which I still have. I thought I had lost the photos but they turned up when I was looking for some other items and I hope to attach them.

Derek.