The Invergowrie rail accident happened in Invergowrie, Scotland, on 22 October 1979. The accident killed five people and injured 51 others.
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Accident
The 08:44 passenger service from Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee, despite running late and experiencing technical difficulties, left Invergowrie station without incident. However, the brake on the leading bogie of the British Rail Class 25 locomotive, 25083, was binding, although the driver carried on as Dundee was only a few miles away. As the train was running along Invergowrie Bay, a traction motor caught fire and the train (with five carriages) was stopped.
Approximately 10 minutes later, the stationary train was run into at around by the seven-coach 09:35 express from Glasgow to Aberdeen hauled by a British Rail Class 47 locomotive, 47208. The impact threw the last four coaches of the Dundee train over the sea wall. The last two broke away completely and ended up in the Firth of Tay while the tide was out. Both passengers in the rear carriage and the driver and secondman of the Aberdeen train were killed instantly. A further passenger died later and a total of 51 people were injured. The Class 47 locomotive was subsequently scrapped due to damage.
It was reported the next day that the dead included engine drivers Robert Duncan and William Hume. Robert Duncan was 60 years old, lived in Tayport and was a church elder and a special constable. He had a 19-year-old son. His widow stated that Driver Duncan had worked for British Rail since he was 16. William Hume was a trainee driver aged 20 and resided in Fintry, Dundee. He had only worked for British Rail for four months. Both were in the cab of the Glasgow to Aberdeen train. The other two immediate fatalities were passengers Dr James Preston, a community health officer aged 65, and Mr Kazimierz Jedrelejczyk, a Polish marine engineer. Footballer Dougie Wilkie was among the seriously injured and was left paralysed from the waist.
Investigation
The signalman at Longforgan signal box stated that he put the mechanical starting signal correctly back to Danger behind the Dundee train. Around ten minutes later, the Aberdeen train arrived at his box and drew up to the Home signal, which was then cleared for it. The train continued to move slowly towards the Starting signal but, after a few moments, began to accelerate. It passed the Starting signal which, as far as the signalman could see, was still at Danger. He went down onto the track and saw that the arm of the Starting signal was slightly raised; about 4°.