Accident at Colchester

From the Arthur Trevena collection of photographs. The derailed Cromer Express at Colchester, Essex, 12 July 1913. The wreckage of the train is being removed by cranes, watched by crowds of people.

This accident occurred because the wrong signal had been given. A train was let through a junction at a high speed when it should have been told to wait, because there was a slower train ahead. The slow train sped up to try to avoid disaster but they collided, killing the footplate crew on the express and a guard.