Penmanshiel Tunnel Collapse of 1979

[richard]

Central Scotland Regional Group of the Geological Society of London has a talk on 31st March at the British Geological Survey's Edinburgh location, about the 1979 collapse of the Penmanshiel Tunnel in Berwickshire:

http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/page4872.html

Collapse occurred during tunnel widening and deepening.
Subject is engineering geology, but the above page does have a photo of No. 60004 hauling the Talisman out of Penmanshiel Tunnel!


Richard

[stembok]

The two workers who tragically died were entombed in the tunnel collapse and there is a memorial to them near to the site.

[Deltic18]

If I remember rightly, the last train through the tunnel was 6E41 Leith Docks - Haverton Hill discharged Anhydrous Ammonia tanks with a Class 40 on the front. Can't remember which one but it would have been a lot worse if it had come down on them!
Keith

[Caledonian]

Never mind the ammonia tanks, I went through the tunnel a couple of days before! They had single line working at the time while they were digging on the other road.

[60041]

An interesting letter was published in the Berwick Advertiser this week (April 16th), I hope that the writer does not object to me quoting from it here:
"As a driver with British Rail, I had already passed through the tunnel late on the previous evening with a freight train destined for Millerhill Yard in Edinburgh.
There was, of course, a temporary speed limit in operation at the time and I vividly remembered the contract workers waving me as I passed through the tunnel.
Retuning to Berwick in the early hours of the morning, I was approaching Penmansheil when my journey was interrupted at the last signal before the entrance to the tunnel - the signal had turned red and I stopped the train.
I telephoned the Signalman at Grantshouse to ascertain the reason for the stoppage, and was informed that for safety reasons an arrangement existed whereby the works inspector made contact with the signal box at 15 minute intervals to confirm that all was in working order and that trains could continue to pass safely through the tunnel.
As the time period had elapsed, the signal had been turned red as a precautionary measure.
Some time passed and on further inquiry, I was given the worst possible news: the tunnel had collapsed.
13 men were able to escape. Unfortuately, however, two young men lost their lives and will be forever missed by their families and friends.
I am thankful that I did not leave Edinburgh a little earlier that morning - had I done so there is every chance that my train could have been passing through the tunnel at the time of the collapse, or a collision could have been made with the fallen debris - the consequences do not bear thinking about.
My Guard that morning was Robert Shanks from Spittal, who sadly passed away on March 26th 2009."
Robert S Wilson, Spittal.

I think that this first hand account is fascinating and introduces a personal element to the tragic events of that night. It also shows how train operations have changed in the last 30 years, there is very little chance of an overnight train to or from Millerhill these days, and even less chance of encountering one crewed by Berwick men!

[52D]

After the accident train crews from Berwick did a good job on the terminating trains at Berwick then shortly after the line reopened Berwick ceased to be a signing on point.
If only the Kelso line and the Waverley had still been with us the spirit of 1948 would have surely shone through and the ECML trains could have used the platforms at the then existing Tweedmouth station with about an increase of an hour over a normal journey timr between London & Edinburgh

[berwickspotter]

Just new to this forum but it was great to see the late robert shanks getting a mention
in one of the threads. he was some chap that loved a joke

[60041]

Hi berwickspotter, welcome to the forum. You will see that there has been some discussion on these pages about the state of Tweedmouth shed, perhaps you could keep us up to date on developments!

[52A]

After the accident train crews from Berwick did a good job on the terminating trains at Berwick then shortly after the line reopened Berwick ceased to be a signing on point.

Berwick ceased to be a signing on point in early 1987.

[berwickspotter]

Yes i will keep you all up to date about the state of tweedmouth i olny live 300 yards
from the place it was a sad day watching the roof go up if anyone wants to see
the events of that day just go on to YOUTUBE and type in- fire at frankies in berwick
or if you want somthing a bit more happy to watch i filmed tornado in tweedmouth
a few month a go so go on YOUTUBE and type in- tornado at tweedmouth yard

as for the shed its self it still has no roof and the birds are starting to nest
now so its not a pretty site

regards-berwickspotter

[Deltic18]

Hi Berwickspotter
Hope you enjoy it here. I remember taking quite a few freight services from Tyne Yard to Berwick/Tweedmouth and it was fun at times. Shame that thing's have gone downhill over the past few years but I'll look forward to hearing what it's like up there now.
Keith

[berwickspotter]

Its very run down now tweedmouth keith the track has been all lifted apart from a loop
type siding so the freight can pull in to let an express past the shed went on fire last year
and about 70% of the roof was destroyed. I went in to the yard a few months ago to watch
tornado get filled up with water and i was shocked to see how much rubbish had been dumped in there old tv's,washing machines,gas cans, you name it such a shame

[third-rail]

Yes i will keep you all up to date about the state of tweedmouth i olny live 300 yards
from the place it was a sad day watching the roof go up if anyone wants to see
the events of that day just go on to YOUTUBE and type in- fire at frankies in berwick
or if you want somthing a bit more happy to watch i filmed tornado in tweedmouth
a few month a go so go on YOUTUBE and type in- tornado at tweedmouth yard

as for the shed its self it still has no roof and the birds are starting to nest
now so its not a pretty site

regards-berwickspotter

was up at spittal on a job it appears on the way out there is only the middle line of roof trusses that are badly damagedany internal pictures???

[berwickspotter]

yes i think the roof could be repaired but wether they do it i dont no
I will try to get pictures on but i'm having big problems with my computer
at the moment