| 08/12/1952 |
Harrow Disaster |
Meanwhile, work had been proceeding on 46202 also. The tender, which had been cleared of coal on another occasion, was dealt with first. This was not so badly damaged and was got away with the top sides and frame each on a Rectank wagon by 8.15 a.m. At 10.50 a.m. the task of lifting the large boiler was commenced, and by 11.30 a.m. it has been safely loaded or to a 40-ton Flatroll wagon. Work went on throughout the day loading up the other wagons with various parts which had either been knocked off at the time of the collisions or cut off later, until ultimately a small trainload departed at 9.30 p.m. behind 45282, in the direction of Watford. The Rugby crane left about the same time behind 48122, both engines having been assisting the operations along with 48601. The Willesden crane left about 10.0 p.m., and all that remained were the frames and two rear pairs only of the driving wheels, the leading pair having earlier been removed and put in a wagon. The frames had been attached to a large tender off an express engine, in good condition, by means of a long heavy timbered coupling. What was left of Princess Anne departed thus on her own wheels in the early hours of Monday morning, 10th November. The electric lines were open for traffic at the normal time and the line in the siding, which had been out of use since 8th October, brought into use again. Fortunately, the weather remained fine throughout the week-end. On Sunday, 16th November, a very similar operation was carried out in respect of the other engine, 46242, City of Glasgow. This had been removed from the main line on Saturday, 11th, in a terrible condition and placed in a siding in the goods yard on the Up side of the line, in the Watford direction. No interference with ordinary traffic was necessary for this, as the cranes could use an adjacent track. The same procedure was followed, the boiler being removed and loaded on one wagon, with the frame on another and wheels in Opens. This engine was damaged much more than 46202, the frame being nothing but a twisted mass of scrap, whilst the front of the boiler had been forced right back, exposing all the tubes. Whatever may be decided as to the future of engines bearing these numbers, it seems clear from their condition that the existing engines will never run again. |
SLS/195306 |
