LMS Route: Rugby to Wolverhampton
LMS Route: Rugby to Leamington
LMS Route: Rugby to Tamworth
LMS Route: Rugby to Leicester
LMS Route: Rugby to Market Harborough

Rugby Station: lnwrrm2375

View of some of the wrecked coaches from the Euston to Manchester parcels which occurred on 26th August 1923. Five coaches were wrecked in all when a coupling broke and the rear portion, without vacuum brakes due to an earlier coupling failure, overtook and collided with the front portion. Although the accident occurred within the confines of the station fortunately no one was hurt.

Philip Millard of the LNWR Society writes, 'The train was the 7/50 Euston - Manchester on Saturday 25th August 1923. The photograph must of course date from the following day. The train consisted of:-
Midland Railway 19ft 6in horsebox 242 (1887)
21ft 0in OCT D.464 12050 (1904)
30ft 1in Brake Van D.385 8533 (1897)
30ft 1in Brake Van D.385 08142 (1892)
50ft 0in BG 8395 D.378 (1904)
30ft 1in Brake Van D.385 8547 (1898) - damaged beyond repair
Midland Railway 20ft 1in Parcel Van 387 (1887)
21ft 0in CCT 011138 P.142 (D.448) (1891) - damaged beyond repair
30ft 0in Fruit Van CCT 12159 D.454 (1909)
50ft 0in BG 8303 D.378 (1904)
30ft 1in Fish Van 12118 D.456 (1895) - damaged beyond repair?
42ft 0in BG 8594 D.382 (1916)
50ft 0in BG 8172 D.378 (1904)
42ft 0in BG 8861 D.382 (1911)
50ft 0in BG 8724 D.378 (1902)
50ft 0in BG 8049 D.376 (1906)
West Coast Joint Stock 50ft 0in BG 212 D.79 (1902)
17 vehicles in total.'

So the two vehicles on the right would seem to be 8547 and 8395. It is harder to work out which high-roof vehicle on the left has had its end smashed in. It would seem to be 12159 - if so the two old vehicles between it and 8547 have been broken up in situ.

Steve Weston also of the LNWR Society writes 'Harry Aland in his book 'Recollections of Country Station Life' quotes on page 18 that a down parcels train broke in two sections when a coupling failed at Kilsby & Crick station. It was decided to recouple the train and work into Rugby without the vacuum as the pipe had been broken. Unfortunately it failed again at Hillmorton. The train split and the first portion pulled up at Rugby as usual. Then the second portion arrived......

Kilsby and Crick was a railway station on the Northampton Loop Line serving the villages of Kilsby and Crick in Northamptonshire. It was located to the eastern side of where the railway crossed the A5 road just west of the present Daventry International Railfreight Terminal. It was located some distance from the villages it was named after, especially Crick which was several miles away. Coming down off the Southern Flyover, it would have hit the first portion at some speed.

Also to quote Mr Aland 'There was chaos. 'Watford' (A porters nickname) came down the side of the train some while later, swinging his handlamp and said the inspector 'George, who do you think buffered these coaches up?' The reply was unprintable.'

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