HIXON RAIL DISASTER               SATURDAY 6TH JANUARY 1968
 
This memorial commemorates the eleven people who tragically lost their lives in a dreadful disaster at the automatic half barrier level crossing that then existed on New Road between the A51 and Hixon Village.
 
In this accident a huge road transporter, carrying a 120 ton transformer and with a police escort, was crossing the main Manchester to London Railway line.  It was moving slowly over the double track railway line when the crossing lights started flashing and warning bells ringing and then, to the horror of the lorry crew, the barriers descended onto the transformer itself.
 
Neither the police escorting the load, nor the crew of the transporter, had any idea of the very short time sequence involved at this new type of crossing, nor the need to phone the signalman before taking such a slow moving and heavy load across the railway line.  In the event, and despite their frantic efforts, they had no hope of getting the huge vehicle off the crossing and it was hit by the electrically hauled express train, itself weighing nearly 500 tons and travelling at 75mph.
 
The terrific impact not only destroyed the locomotive and wrecked the first five coaches of the train, but tore up the track for more than 150 yards.  The noise of the crash was clearly heard in Hixon and many villagers rushed to help with rescue.  As well as the 11 people killed, some 45 people were injured and taken to hospital.  The emergency services responded remarkably quickly and no-one who was alive after the impact died subsequently.  Villagers received special thanks afterwards for the help they provided, long before the sort of disaster emergency procedures we see today had been put in place.
 
Following the accident a full judicial inquiry was held (the first into a railway accident since the Tay Bridge Disaster of 1879) and many changes were made to make automatic level crossings safer.  As a result of lessons learned at Hixon it is therefore safe to say that many more lives have since been saved, not only in the UK but also at level crossings in many other countries around the world.
 
Further Information
 
A good summary of the accident can be found in Wikipedia by typing ‘Wikipedia Hixon Rail Disaster’
 
The full (and readable) Judicial Inquiry Report can be accessed online by typing ‘Hixon Rail Disaster Judicial Inquiry’ and following the link.
 
A book which particularly examines shortcomings in the Judicial Inquiry is also available.  It is ‘The Hixon Rail Disaster – The Inside Story’, by Richard Westwood, published by Pen & Sword Books