by Brian Garrett and Richard Giles
Published on 16th May 1991
It was during the early hours of the 16th May 1991 that a major incident occurred in the Taunton area at Bradford on Tone just south of the automatic barrier crossing.
The derailment and subsequent fire occurred when 6C35 23:35 (TThO) Briton Ferry – Heathfield (Newton Abbot) loaded fuel (containing a mixture of petroleum spirt, diesel, and kerosene) derailed at around 04:30 in the morning. All 22 of the loaded Gulf fuel tanks had derailed. The locomotive No.47327 remined on the track and was able to be uncoupled moved forward to a safe position before raising the alarm with Exeter panel box via the in-cab radio. A few of the derailed tanks ruptured leaking their contents, the combination of fuel and vapour ignited causing other tanks to explode causing a major incident for the emergency services. Local families were told to stay in their homes and those living at closer farms were evacuated. The smoke from the fire was visible from 15 miles away. The track was blocked and track circuit information was cut off at the Exeter Power Box. The line remained closed between 16th – 19th May with diversions in place via Castle Cary, Yeovil and Honiton to and from Exeter with road bus connections also linking Tiverton Parkway. As part of the clean-up effort No.47335 was also sent up from Laira with the Laira re-railing train together with heavy road cranes to lift the wagons clear of the line. No.37035 delivered new rails to the site on the ‘down’ line on Sunday 19th May and No.47371 also arrived with a loaded ballast train on the ‘up’ line. No.47098 also delivered a second ballast train to the site last on the Sunday afternoon.
On Monday 20th May a single line (up) was reopened at 06:00, later at 18:00 both the down lines had been restored. The centre platforms at Taunton Station were also brought back into use over the Sunday to handle terminating services. The close proximity of the River Tone (reference pollution) and the care for use of oxy-acetylene torches for cutting wagons due to vapour emissions hampered clearance work. British Rail investigators blamed the derailment on a hot axle bearing on one of the wagons which was thought to have caused the train derailment.
We have been able to provide a list of BR planned service changes on the 18th May . Thankfully there were not injuries and all parties were thankful the event occurred in the countryside and not Taunton, as the situation could have been far worse had the derailment of occurred in a populated area.
