Quintinshill

May 23rd 2015

QUINTINSHILL

May 22nd 2015 was the 100th anniversary of the railway disaster at Quintinshill, Gretna, in 1915, Britain's worst ever railway disaster.  Because of mistakes made by two signalmen, three trains collided, a local train, an express and a troop train carrying hundreds of soldiers of the Royal Scots  from Leith to board a ship in Liverpool which would take them to Gallipoli.  214 soldiers and 13 other passengers and railwaymen were killed.  The horrific scene was made even worse when gas cylinders on the troop train caught fire and exploded. 

A service was held and wreaths were laid at the memorial cairn.  The white wreath was laid by Princess Anne and also among the wreaths was one in memory of a 16 year old bugler.

There was an exhibition at the nearby hall which had a lot of interesting detailed exhibits, including a collage made by a group of ladies and a collage made by local school children.

We then went to see the scene of the accident at the bridge.  The grey patch on the left in the second photograph is where the signalbox used to be.

I go everywhere with Grannymac but don't always have my photograph taken - this was one of the times and places where it wouldn't have been appropriate.  Quintinshill remembered.