Class 116 Derby 3-car Suburban DMUs
Accidents
These are some of the accidents that are known to involve Class 116s.
16/11/60 - Pontrhydyfen Jct, WR
Collision involving Class 116 / Steam
Set CAT343 was operating a journey from Neath to Treherbert when the leading car, W50125 was struck by a runaway coal train headed by ex-GWR pannier tank 9737, on the single line track at Pontrhydyfen Junction. The DMU driver was killed in the accident and the leading car was so badly damaged that it was written off and later scrapped at Swindon Works.
24/11/60 - Between Pontrhydyfen and Cwmavon, WR
Collision involving Class 116 / Steam
Info from Bill Read, Railway Observer January 1961 p14
A 3-car DMU (set CAT343, 50125 + 59343 + 50083) working the 4.55pm Swansea High Street to Barry Island was in a head-on collision with an unfitted goods train (weighing 620 tons) hauled by a Class 57XX Tank locomotive (9737) running bunker first. 2 persons killed and 26 injured. The point of collision was on a single-line section with a gradient of 1 in 42. The locomotive drove some five feet into the leading power car which telescoped some ten feet into the intermediate trailer. The locomotive was also extensively damaged and 8 wagons were wrecked. The goods train was travelling too fast down the gradient and had an insufficient number of wagon brakes applied to enable it to stop at the Pontrhydyfen signal.
19/05/67 - Birmingham Snow Hill
Collision involving Class 122 / Class 116
Info from Railway Observer p264 August 1967
The single car (presumably GRC&W built) working the 17:18 Snow Hill to Langley Green collided with the incoming 16:40 Wolverhampton - Snow Hlll worked by a three-car set (probably Derby built, maybe Met-Camm?) at the points leading to the old bay platforms at Snow Hill. Little damage was done apart from broken windows.
11/6/74 - Pollokshields East Jct, ScR
Collision involving Class 116 / EMU
Info from Bill Read and Peter Mullen
A Class 116 bound for Glasgow was in a sidelong collision on crossover with a Class 311 EMU. More Details.
27/06/75 - Lichfield City station
Collision involving Class 116
Class 116 DMBS 50085 was damaged in a shunting accident at Lichfield City station and was withdrawn soon afterwards.
05/07/80 - Birmingham New Street
Collision involving Class 116 / Class 47
M50115 (set TS519) collided with 47 337 at Birmingham New Street and would be withdrawn.
27/05/82 - Alvechurch
Collision involving Class 116 / Ballast train
Info from Martin Baumann, Bromsgrove Advertiser
The 12.24 Redditch - Barnt Green was hit by a ballast train as it arrived into Alvechurch station. Two of the Class 116 vehicles 50066 + 59024 would be withdrawn.
20/07/89 - Stormstown sidings, Abercynon
Fire involving Class 110 / Class 116
A fire, started by two seven year olds, destroyed five condemned DMU vehicles. They had been stored at Stormstown Sidings near Abercynon to make space at Canton.