The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway has released an official statement after an incident involving one of their steam locomotives today, Sunday 20th September 2020.
At around 17:45, an incident occurred involving a passenger train's locomotive which resulted in the leading wheelset derailing.
The incident occurred due to the train hitting a sheep, there were 8 passengers and train crew (a driver and a guard) – no injuries were sustained in the accident for either passengers or crew.
At 18:08, after consultation with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and the Office of Rail and Road, approval was given to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway for the train to be recovered from Walkmill Summit, which is near Irton Road station.
A train was despatched from Ravenglass at 18:22 to recover the passengers after which, the locomotive could be re-railed.
The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway has said: “The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway continues to liaise with its regulator, the ORR, and apologies sincerely to its passengers for the disruption to their day. Sheep are commonplace about the railway and are very rarely struck by the trains.”
An inspection of the track will take place, with the estimation that trains will resume tomorrow, Monday 21st September 2020.
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IS THE SHEEP OK?!?!?
Please let us know how the sheep was also. Thanks.
Yes, I agree. The statement that there were injuries or damage, simply isn’t true. Why wasn’t the driver looking out for sheep and adjusting his speed accordingly if they are common in the area?
Well maybe they were looking out but somehow it happened anyway. My point about news items about incidents concerning people and animals is that we want to know the outcome for all concerned … not just the people.
OK then…..
Clarification of this incident indicates that The Ratty dealt with this with commendable speed……and efficiency…..
Something the National Network could learn from…..
Well done everyone at The Ratty……
James Hennighan
Yorkshire, England
Consultation with the Rail Accident Investigation Board, (RAIB)………… BEFORE another train was sent for the passengers and BEFORE the derailed train was recovered…….?
For heaven’s sake…..!
Has nobody any sense……?
This was an incident with a sheep……and as anyone who has travelled on ‘The Ratty’ well knows they are all over the place…..
In the age of instant communication…..given there were no injuries or damage, the incident should have been dealt with more simply and directly.
Photos should have been taken at the scene…….a train sent for the passengers, (the Ratty has radio communications directly with it’s trains)…….the locomotive re-railed………AND THEN…….the RAIB could and should have been informed.
More commonsense called for than seeming adherence to procedures for a minor incident…..
Indeed, one has to wonder if any classification for ‘incidents’ exists, such that severity or degrees of severity are a consideration, rather than a one size fits all approach.
Anyone who has chased sheep from a garden……or, whilst driving, given way to them crossing a moorland or country road….knows there always exists the possibility of more of them following the ones you can see.
They are by their nature a skittish creature and can bolt at an instant…….BUT…….one has to consider whether the driver of the train that hit the sheep was exercising an appropriate caution in this instance……
He would……and should have been familiar with the presence of sheep and of how they act…….or might act.
The derailment of a locomotive indicates likely excessive speed in the presence of a known hazard…..
James Hennighan
Yorkshire, England
Was the loco damaged and did the sheep manage to survive?gmail’s.com