News Archive for July 1978

(Photo: Taunton Trains Collection)

Published on 15th July 1978

BR Blue Class 46 No.46004 passes Creech St Michael on the 15th July 1978 hauling a rake of empty china clay hoods for loading in Cornwall.

The service most likely originated from Stoke on Trent and headed to Cornwall via Severn Tunnel Junction.

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(Photo: )

by Jeff Treece
Published on 6th July 1978

Local resident Jeff Treece recalls the tragic events of the terrible night.

The Taunton Sleeper Fire happened on the 6th July 1978 when Sleeping carriages on the 'up' overnight sleeper from Penzance caught fire. The train stopped by Fairwater Close which at least did enable the fire service and other emergency services to access the line relatively easily. It could have been much worse if the train had stopped well out in the sticks where access would have be very difficult indeed. The coaches were at some stage dumped in the bay platform on the Railway Street side of the Station as I recall seeing there about 8.30am that morning on my diverted way to work. All train services had been suspended and although Staplegrove Road was buzzing with activity when the train stopped and the air was filled with acrid smoke. Cause of the fire was a pile of bed-linen which had been placed on a heater in the end vestibule (which had inadequate guards). When the heater came on after the train was connected up to the locomotive's power supply, the linen caught fire although clearly, the loco had been on the train from Penzance. I guess maybe the linen was moved en route or some other fault developed with the heater - eg linen prevented adequate ventilation and heat built-up etc. It was the smoke from this, in a confined space, that caused the carbon monoxide that killed ten passengers. The Fire Brigade did complain about locked doors hindering access to fight the fire. That was a separate issue to do with saving property rather than life and following the fire Somerset's Chief Fire Officer (Nigel Musselwhite) made a series of recommendations to radically improve the design and fire safety of sleeping carriages which were incorporated into a new design and build. Sadly, Nigel died a few years ago. According to the Official Report, the train came to a stand adjacent to Fairwater Close at about 02.41. The first Police vehicle arrived at 02.52: the first Ambulance at 02.54 and the first Fire Brigade appliance at 02.55
To read more on this terrible event please visit our Memories Page